San Bernardino County urged residents to follow simple charging habits to reduce fire risk from rechargeable batteries; it said batteries can cause fires when damaged, defective or charged incorrectly and noted they power cellphones, laptops, power tools, bicycles and scooters.

The county advised: use the charger recommended by the manufacturer; keep charging devices on a hard, stable surface and away from anything that can burn; avoid charging devices while sleeping or when you are away from home; and stop using devices that overheat, swell, leak or emit unusual odors or noises.

Following those steps reduces the chance of household fires from everyday battery-powered items.

For more fire prevention and safety information, visit the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s website at https://sbcfire.org/fpw/.

Sources & methodology

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County of San Bernardino

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