Safety. How to protect yourself from the risks associated with your device batteries.
Following a building fire in Reims, which appears to have been caused by the ignition of an electric scooter battery, the French National Federation of Firefighters has issued some recommendations to prevent similar tragedies.
Often sourced from China and sometimes not meeting current standards, electric scooter batteries can pose a fire hazard, which is also very difficult to extinguish. Photo Sipa /Mario Fourmy
A news story that calls for greater vigilance from all of us. The fire that killed four people overnight from Thursday to Friday in a public housing building in Reims was caused by an electric scooter, which caught fire in an apartment, according to Reims prosecutor François Schneider.
"Fires caused by this type of battery […] are extremely difficult to extinguish, since the cells tend to self-sustain when they burn [this is the phenomenon of thermal runaway, editor's note], which explains the violence and speed of the spread of the fire," he explained during a press briefing on Saturday at the Reims court.
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An opinion shared by Commander Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for the French National Federation of Firefighters : "Between 2020 and 2022, this type of fire has quadrupled. And this is because there are more and more users of stand-alone batteries. Inevitably, the risks are increasing."
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Before reminding us of some prevention rules, particularly when purchasing products containing electric batteries. "Today, many products sold on Chinese platforms at attractive prices do not meet European safety standards. You must always be vigilant when choosing the equipment you buy," he emphasizes.
Another concern: using chargers that aren't compatible with the products. "You shouldn't mix devices and avoid leaving home with chargers plugged in. Or leave them on a power outlet overnight," insists the commander. You should also avoid overloading power strips and choose a model with a switch, preferably. And unplug the device as soon as it's fully charged.
Furthermore, although the installation of smoke detectors has been mandatory in all homes since March 8, 2015, some French people are not yet equipped or turn them off for fear that the system will be triggered by mistake when they are not there. However, these detectors are "essential and they save lives," insists the firefighter.
Faced with these risks, some French people are wondering whether it's worth having a fire extinguisher at home. Especially since each year, domestic fires cause 460 deaths and 10,000 injuries and burns (according to INPES figures from 2021). "If you have a fire extinguisher, you must be trained in its use. Otherwise, it's useless," says Commander Eric Brocardi.
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