OCFA highlights lithium‑ion battery risks as La Palma proclaims Fire Prevention Week

At the La Palma City Council meeting on Oct. 7, the council proclaimed Fire Prevention Week and received a quarterly update from the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). OCFA presenters noted an increase in battery‑related fires and emphasized three public safety calls to action: purchase listed (certified) products, charge batteries safely and recycle lithium‑ion batteries responsibly to reduce fire risk.

Captain Sean Dorn and other OCFA representatives reviewed incident statistics for the quarter covering May through July: OCFA responded to 45,272 incidents, including 679 fires, 32,702 medical‑aid calls and 11,891 all‑hazard calls. The presentation highlighted several local and regional responses, including a 2‑alarm apartment fire in Santa Ana, a multi‑vehicle crash on the 22 Freeway and a confined‑space rescue training exercise, and noted OCFA’s mutual‑aid deployments in response to floods in Texas and New Mexico.

OCFA representatives urged residents to change smoke alarm batteries biannually, practice safe cooking, plan escape routes, and exercise care with space heaters. The presentation stressed that lithium‑ion batteries in common household devices can overheat and ignite if damaged or improperly charged and that proper disposal reduces environmental hazards.

Why it matters: Lithium‑ion batteries power many household devices and were identified as a growing source of fire risk; OCFA’s outreach aims to reduce incidents through prevention and safe disposal.

Next steps: OCFA and La Palma staff plan continued community outreach, school visits and public education during Fire Prevention Week.