The theme of Fire Prevention Week 2025, which runs until October 11, is ‘Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home’.
Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations is urging everyone to understand the importance of buying, charging and recycling lithium-ion batteries safely.
They say “most electronics including smartphones, tablets, power and lawn tools, laptops, e-cigarettes, headphones and toys are powered by lithium-ion batteries. If not used correctly or if damaged, lithium-ion batteries can overheat, start a fire or even explode. Lithium-ion batteries should always be stored safely away from babies, children and pets.”
Best practices for lithium-ion batteries include:
- Buy only listed products: When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, look for ‘CSA approved’ stamp or mark that indicates a product has been tested and certified by CSA Group (formerly the Canadian Standards Association) to meet applicable safety standards for Canada and North America.
- Charge devices safely: Always use the charger the device came with, charge the device on a hard (non-fabric) surface and discard chargers properly when frayed or damaged.
- Recycle batteries responsibly: Do not dispose of lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could catch fire. Recycling devices or batteries at a safe battery recycling location is the best way to dispose of them.
Visit https://recycleyourbatteries.ca/ to find a local recycling location.
The Manitoba government and Office of the Fire Commissioner, along with the Manitoba Firefighters’ Burn Fund and Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs, invites kindergarten to Grade 4 students across the province to learn about lithium-ion batteries and how to use them safely. Fire Prevention Week contest entry details and prize information along with classroom and household resources to learn more about Fire Prevention Week activities are available at https://manitoba.ca/firepreventionweek/.
Fire Prevention Week is held during the week surrounding Oct. 6 in Canada and the United States to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in October 1871.
