Charge Into Fire Safety this Fire Prevention Week

Tuesday, 6 October 2026 07:00

The theme of this year's campaign is Charge Into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower.

WOODSTOCK - The Woodstock Fire Department is shining a light on lithium ion batteries this Fire Prevention Week.

The campaign officially kicked off on Sunday and the theme this year is Charge Into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower. It highlights everyday charging habits that could help reduce the risk of a fire

Public Information Coordinator Lisa Woods shared some of them during an interview on Heart FM Mornings yesterday.

"Use the cord that came with the device! It has specifications that work and won't damage your battery, heat it up as much, and it will stop charging when it's full. Chargers that come from online sources don't necessarily meet our standards and could continue to charge, fail, or cause damage to the battery which could start a fire."

If you have to replace the cord, Woods says you should make sure that it's approved by the CSA or another internationally recognized testing lab.

She says you should stop charging your device once the battery is full at 100 percent. You should also unplug it if it feels hot, starts to swell, smells funny, leaks, smokes, or starts making popping or hissing noises.

Woods says you should only be charging your device on a hard surface like a desk, a table or the floor. Your device should not be on soft surface like a bed, pillow or couch while its plugged in. Larger batteries for e-scooters and power tools should be charged outside.

Woods says local firefighters will be out in the community spreading the message this week.

"We will be in your hardware stores and grocery stores and we're also going to try to do some knocking on doors. Not only are we trying to pass on lithium ion battery safety tips, but also general fire safety tips like making sure your alarms are up to date and less than 10 years old."

You can find more information about this year's Fire Prevention Week campaign online here.

Lisa Woods stopped by the Heart FM studio to chat with Dan and Marcie on Monday October 5th. You can listen to the full interview below: