An early morning fire recently destroyed the garage at Jesse Hampshire’s home on Helen Street in Winslow.

The cause? Lithium-ion batteries.

From power tools to pacemakers, lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly widespread in consumer electronics. As their usage has grown, so has the number of fires they cause, raising questions about their safety.

After the batteries caused fires at a Chelsea manufacturing plant and the Winslow garage, concerns have risen locally about the safety, storage and usage of lithium-ion batteries.

Experts say not all lithium-ion batteries are created equal, and that factors ranging from human behavior to chemical reactions are setting many of them ablaze.

What are lithium batteries?

Lithium batteries are generally small, usually rechargeable batteries often used in portable electronics ranging from cellphones to lawnmowers.

Lithium is a metal that can store much energy in a small space, and while that makes it useful for making batteries, it also means it can quickly cause a big fire.

There are two types of lithium batteries: Lithium-ion batteries, which are rechargeable; and lithium-metal batteries, which are not.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are used in everything that you can plug in and use portably: Laptops, cameras, power tools, electric cars and more. Single-use lithium-metal batteries are generally used in smaller devices, such as watches, flashlights and car key fobs.

Where are lithium batteries used?

Everywhere.

Lithium batteries are used in tablets, mobile scooters, defibrillators and nearly every portable or rechargeable electric device.

Lithium-ion batteries have become ubiquitous because they are rechargeable, lightweight and relatively cheap to produce, according to Maine Fire Marshal Richard McCarthy. Personal electronics, he said, power their popularity with lithium batteries.

The batteries have also seen widening usage in electric vehicles, ranging from SUVs to scooters, which are becoming more popular and prevalent on roads, according to Shawn Ramage, the former fire chief in Chelsea.

Why are they causing so many fires?

As lithium batteries have become more widespread, so have the fires they cause. Experts say that is for a number of reasons, from human behavior to chemical reactions.

Because lithium batteries store much energy in a small package, they can ignite quickly and unexpectedly. Lithium batteries can rapidly overcharge, overheat and eventually combust, sometimes without warning.

Using, storing and charging the batteries the wrong way can also set them ablaze. Leaving batteries plugged in when they have reached 100%, storing them in hot temperatures and overheating them by overusing them are among the main causes behind many battery fires, according to experts.

A garage fire earlier this week in Winslow, for example, was ignited by power tools that became overheated while charging in a hot, humid garage, according to Chief Mike Murphy of the Winslow Fire Department.

“They were the cheap knockoff batteries you’d buy on Amazon,” Murphy said. “Those are pretty dangerous, with the (temperature) being in the 90s and them charging in a hot garage.”

The increase in lithium battery fires is also partly because of how fire departments are reporting the fires. The Office of State Fire Marshal in Maine only recently began counting lithium battery fires as their own category, McCarthy said, rather than lumping them in with other metrics.

“Previously, it was just a fire and it was reported as a garage, or structure, fire,” he said. “Now, the fire departments differentiate a lithium-ion battery fire from other kinds of fires. We’re sort of peeling back the layers of the onion, so to speak.”

Are lithium batteries dangerous?

Sort of, but it depends on where you are getting them, how you are using them and where you live.

Lithium batteries’ safety largely depends on who is making them, McCarthy said. While most batteries from reputable and trusted brands include safety features intended to prevent overheating and overcharging, some cheaper batteries do not.

A good lithium battery has an internal switch that will shut off the battery when it is done charging, unlike what McCarthy called “aftermarket batteries,” which are often less expensive and do not have the same quality control.

“If you have a power tool and need to replace the battery, a lot of them can be over $100 from the manufacturer,” McCarthy said. “If you go on to the internet and try to find an aftermarket or knockoff battery, you can find four batteries for $60. I can tell you that spending that money is worth it.”

Battery safety can also vary based on how you use, recharge and maintain your batteries. Leaving your batteries charging too long, routinely overcharging and entirely draining them and storing them in hot temperatures are among the main ways battery fires can start.

Still, experts say lithium battery fires are relatively rare and are often caused by external factors, rather than the batteries themselves.

How should I store and charge my batteries?

It is best to charge lithium batteries in short increments in an area away from people. Because charging batteries can overheat and ignite without warning while charging, experts say it is safest to keep power tools inside the garage and cellphones on a bedside table.

Batteries should always be unplugged once they are fully charged or if hot to the touch, McCarthy said. They should also be stored at about 65 degrees and away from sunlight, to avoid overheating and possibly igniting.

“The chemical reaction that makes the battery provide power creates heat, and you don’t want to add more heat to that,” McCarthy said.

Batteries should also be stored with 50% charge in order to maximize their lifespan and prevent them from igniting by reacting with themselves.

How do I tell if my battery is dangerous?

The warning signs of a dangerous lithium battery are much the same as those of a standard AA battery: Leaking fluids, strange odors and the battery itself expanding or inflating.

Lithium batteries will often start swelling or leaking fluid before igniting, especially in mobile electronic devices. Larger batteries, like those in scooters or electric vehicles, might emit smoke or make crackling sounds while charging or in use.

Anyone with a battery experiencing those conditions should immediately call the local fire department and remove the battery from the home, McCarthy said.

A more common and less dangerous sign of an aging lithium battery is heat. If a battery is becoming hot to the touch when a device is plugged in or in use, there is good chance it need be replaced.

Lithium batteries should not be thrown into the trash because they contain dangerous chemicals, McCarthy said. Instead, they should be brought to a local recycling center.

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