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Council marks Fire Prevention Month, emphasizes lithium‑ion battery safety
Summary
The council and county executive used the proclamation to highlight the growing danger of lithium‑ion batteries, urge safe charging and disposal, and point residents to expanded county recycling services and MCFRS prevention programs.
A Public Safety Committee member introduced a proclamation recognizing October as Fire Prevention Month and noted county emphasis on the 2025 NFPA theme focused on lithium‑ion battery safety. The proclamation and subsequent comments described a recent garage fire attributed to a lithium battery that caused an estimated $300,000 in damages and urged residents to follow device manufacturer charging instructions and use battery recycling programs.
County Executive Mark Elrich praised Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services’ prevention-first approach and warned about the severity of lithium-ion fires: "Lithium ion batteries are not your grandfather's batteries... when damaged and misused, they can fail suddenly and fires can occur very quickly and they can last and they're very intense and they can be deadly." The county highlighted curbside battery and electronics recycling and encouraged residents to call 311 for pickup or visit MCFRS resources for prevention tips.
