The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office is encouraging the State’s residents and businesses to locate their extra nine-volt batteries and learn how to store them properly.
In July, a fire broke out in a kitchen “junk” drawer which the resident stated she had just cleaned and organized. The fire produced smoke throughout the first floor of the home. In the drawer were spare keys, a cigarette lighter, paper clips, eye glass cleaner, and some batteries in a baggie along with other items that one might find in a “junk” drawer.
The local fire department determined the cause of the fire to be from a nine-volt battery stored in the same baggie with other batteries. The nine-volt battery rubbed against another battery and ignited the fire. In the homeowner’s words, “We were fortunate not have been away for the weekend.”
The Fire Marshal’s Office is advising that a nine-volt battery is a fire hazard because the positive and negative posts are on top, right next to one another. If the ends come in contact with anything metal (e.g., aluminum foil, steel wool, paper clip, other batteries), this will cause the object to heat up and ignite a fire.
To store the batteries, keep them in their original packaging or keep their ends covered. For disposal, make sure that the positive and negative posts are safely wrapped in electrical tape.
The office is also reminding residents to check their smoke alarms each month to ensure an early warning to get out safely if a fire should occur in the home.
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