[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6183860,"mediaKeyId","5093578-cd5628967f0078fd8cb89fcad66e20a9","parentId",5093578,"title","Presenter warns of lithium-battery fire risks; explains extinguisher types, recalls and safe storage","audioSeconds",2052,"startMs",796000,"endMs",2848000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093578-cd5628967f0078fd8cb89fcad66e20a9&start=796&end=2848","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093578-cd5628967f0078fd8cb89fcad66e20a9/thumbnail_796000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183860/Bonner-County/Idaho/Presenter-warns-of-lithium-battery-fire-risks-explains-extinguisher-types-recalls-and-safe-storage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183860-3a802dd69c9ea5a54ede7ededf5d104a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773712675&Signature=ADZyQ9ooP058Zq9INcOnrCuKKnCf3NHB0AKAbY5m23hYCqBIxdjDNNAhRgLrtO66pnDE2TWbxzlL2ebq0EjfeLMEpojBhhkgv2jW~QhTzqysU~XFhy~ijY05OOsRDOhTWE48CFAYupEoqc8X7bxsHelIE~CJu1zVoCRwnzPPYFVboe8aiDP3LoUzYqP6Uqe1FdUt8r7hfuKjvKryZRsCU8SPhxR-ZshxpZ4HglW8r6kFgaMTDPVkz4r~YC-Wrnx6Zfy4fC1eHXyR02zTcKm7DS9XR5JG8g0vChAAOj8HEqi8aezAINHVp4ExWYNHQ95S7dwm5o8YUpbjOhGkAGLCvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-28T00:34:23Z","article","Rob Rupert, a certified safety professional and wildland and structural firefighter, told attendees that lithium-based batteries in phones, scooters, laptops and electric vehicles pose unique fire hazards and that many common extinguishing agents are ineffective or can worsen certain battery fires.

Rupert described thermal runaway — a process where a damaged or overheated lithium cell rapidly fails and can re-ignite hours or days after initial suppression — and cited local incidents including a multi-million-dollar fire loss from an electric scooter charged in low temperatures. He said some lithium chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4) are less prone to rapid failure, but still carry risk.

On extinguishers, Rupert outlined the standard fire classifications and how agents work: Class A (ordinary combustibles), B (flammable liquids), C (energized electrical hazards), D (combustible metals) and K (cooking oils). He said that dry-chemical ABC extinguishers are common and universal for quick knockdown, but can be corrosive to electronics and are a single-use discharge; dry powder may not fully extinguish lithium-battery fires and can allow re-ignition. He said some clean agents (halon replacements) are effective but are tightly regulated for environmental reasons.

Rupert warned homeowners about an industry recall: many small plastic-headed consumer extinguishers made by Kidde were recalled because of head failures; owners can claim a free replacement metal-headed unit from the manufacturer’s recall process. He urged people to check serial numbers and manufacturing dates and to replace or service extinguishers that show failed pressure indicators.

For lithium-battery incidents he recommended the following practical steps: remove a hot or smoking device from enclosed spaces and place it outdoors in a metal container away from combustibles, do not rely on water or dry chemical alone to fully extinguish a lithium-battery thermal-runaway event, and be prepared for re-ignition (some EV wrecks and crushed battery incidents have relit days later). He also discussed foam sticks and class-A foam in-line devices that increase water effectiveness for vegetation and Class-A fuels but cautioned that they are not a cure-all for battery fires.

Rupert addressed charging habits and consumer electronics: most UL-marked consumer products are robust, but cheap uncertified batteries and off-brand chargers increase risk. He recommended keeping chargers and devices in ventilated areas, not charging devices in sub-zero conditions without proper battery-management safeguards, and using N95 masks or escape respirators during smoke exposure.

He also covered extinguisher maintenance and selection: pressure-gauged metal-headed extinguishers or rechargeable pressurized-water cans can be practical for homesteads; look for units with refillable air chucks and follow hydrostatic test requirements. He concluded that awareness of battery chemistry, safe charging and proper extinguisher selection and maintenance are essential parts of home fire safety.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bonner County Civil Defense Resilience Team Presents Preparedness Training: Fire Defense","oneSentenceSummary","Rob Rupert, a certified safety professional and firefighter, described lithium-battery thermal runaway risks, recent incidents, limitations of different extinguisher agents and a Kidde recall of plastic-headed extinguishers during a community fire-safety presentation.","taxTitle","Bonner County, Idaho","taxId",49415,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6183865,"Firefighter outlines wildfire preparedness for homesteads: defensible space, water and evacuation planning",2613,3312000,5925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093578-cd5628967f0078fd8cb89fcad66e20a9&start=3312&end=5925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093578-cd5628967f0078fd8cb89fcad66e20a9/thumbnail_3312000.jpg","/articles/6183865/Bonner-County/Idaho/Firefighter-outlines-wildfire-preparedness-for-homesteads-defensible-space-water-and-evacuation-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183865-60cf1079f047305be1ae529137245135/orig.mp4?Expires=1773712675&Signature=inPnp4oHzme8b5jin9pfNhwWcgh5f-E9-tgEMx~bchWtexYIOkg~mPg4WUST5vhcfAPcu8tow7sLoGrV3FZ3bsgDcOLuYqTeagRd1fL9ZvhgmBxSFRx~ekpdh5jXvodGJ~jNcXOBIjW33swH2Nw~fquUX60QEY1S20RJZM7S09YhL3aNdg9B9osvxsU-7PqIO5uF2YmmneQh56O-E9StSfarsw4dpcHMQLOKhf6xt91-uU8iI4U5UFMM3ek5mZDYHls8MRAjL5KLe3XMOfIEgeiFOsVtIO2g07KCvZIJzif41UnWOONx-5hMrz9jt~wYWf4bUwx7STu6Y-5uKPadAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rob Rupert, a certified safety professional and wildland and structural firefighter, urged homeowners to prioritize defensible space, water access and evacuation planning during a community presentation on wildfire and homestead fire preparedness.

Rupert said creating and maintaining clear zones around structures, having a reliable water supply and planning escape routes are the three practical steps that most reduce property loss and help fire departments defend homes.

He described the Firewise-style approach to defensible space: a near-house “ignition-reduction” zone of rock or low-combustible material immediately adjacent to structures, intermediate landscaping that reduces continuous fuels, and an extended zone in which tree spacing, removal of duff and avoidance of dense, continuous fuels reduce the chance of crown fires. Rupert said embers are a major cause of structure ignitions and recommended limiting combustible materials near eaves, vents and foundations.

Rupert emphasized water supply and delivery. He recommended cisterns or buried tanks where feasible, and said a rule-of-thumb cost of stored water is roughly $1 per gallon when installed in a tank. For firefighting use, he stressed both volume and, importantly, pressure: “For every 100 feet of vertical rise you need about 44 pounds of pressure just to get the water up,” he said, adding that homeowners should size pumps so they can deliver both flow and pressure to roof sprinklers or nozzles.

He demonstrated homeowner options that stretch limited water, including pressurized “water cans” with a wetting agent, foam sticks (class-A foam) inserted in-line with garden hoses, portable sprinklers that clip to gutters and higher-capacity turret-style sprinklers used in other countries. Rupert showed examples of 3/4-inch and 1-inch hoses, flat lay hoses, and backpack pumps for direct defense; he recommended at least one inch hoses if a homeowner will use a pump.

On access and equipment, Rupert recommended keeping driveways and access roads clear and sized so fire apparatus can enter and turn around. He advised limb heights sufficient for vehicles and trucks and noted some modern fire engines can be tall (one example he cited about a new engine was roughly 12 feet high). He also urged homeowners to have clear evacuation plans (“ready, set, go”), assemble essential documents and supplies in advance, and heed evacuation warnings promptly.

Rupert used live demonstration photos and small controlled burns to illustrate how fuels close to a structure or under skirting on mobile homes can rapidly lead to structural involvement. He said fuel reduction—removing stacked wood, keeping mulch and combustible landscaping at safer distances, and limbing trees—are low-cost mitigations with outsized benefit.

The presentation included safety guidance for residents who choose to stay and defend: use flame-resistant clothing or cotton garments (avoid polyester blends), have personal protective equipment (helmets, eye protection, chaps for chainsaw users), tourniquets and basic first-aid, and plan clear escape routes. He repeatedly cautioned that if a fire becomes larger than what two extinguishers or a homeowner’s water supply can handle, it is time to evacuate and let engines handle suppression.

Rupert closed by inviting attendees to practical demonstrations on equipment and water use and reiterated that small, timely actions—clearing fuels immediately around a house, assembling water and an evacuation bag, and calling 911 at the first sign of an uncontrollable fire—are critical to reducing loss.","Rob Rupert, a certified safety professional and wildland/structural firefighter, gave a community presentation on homestead wildfire preparedness covering defensible-space landscaping, water storage and pumps, evacuation planning and tools homeowners can use to make properties more defensible.","actionData","errors"]

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Presenter warns of lithium-battery fire risks; explains extinguisher types, recalls and safe storage

Firefighter outlines wildfire preparedness for homesteads: defensible space, water and evacuation planning