Could the simple action of recharging your batteries start a fire in your home?
The Canada Safety Council says they’re seeing more fires sparked by faulty and misused battery chargers, all across Canada.
The organization is urging people to be more cautious when they use the devices.
“These things become more and more powerful – and as a result when they fail you get catastrophic heat and you get fire if they’re not handled properly,” says Raynald Marchand with the Canada Safety Council.
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He says a perfect example is a house fire in northeast Calgary on April 2nd, 2013.
A toy battery charger overheated in a child’s room and started a fire that destroyed two Castleridge homes and damaged two others.
In Ontario, investigators have said battery chargers caused at least two house fires this year.
In one case, the device malfunctioned and overheated, and in the other case it was blamed on a battery charger with the wrong kind of battery.
“Many people will recharge these units while they’re unattended,” says Marchand. “They’ll leave them plugged in, go out of the house or they’ll go to bed and these units can overheat or the charger itself can be defective.”
Other problems include mixing battery brands in chargers, using non-rechargeable batteries in a charger and placing charges near flammable materials.
Rechargeable batteries also have a lifespan, so it’s recommended to replace them frequently.
CLICK HERE for more information on battery charger safety, and links to past battery or charger recalls from The Canada Safety Council.
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