HELENA, Mont. — From smartphones and tablets to laptops, scooters and e-bikes, rechargeable devices have become a part of everyday life. As Fire Prevention Week gets underway, Helena firefighters are reminding families that the convenience of lithium-ion batteries also comes with important safety responsibilities.
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More than 400 second-grade students from Helena Public Schools visited Helena Fire Station One this week for a hands-on fire safety education event designed to teach children how to prevent fires and respond during emergencies.
“We're at the firefighter station, and we take a trip, and we're learning about safety,” said Jefferson School second grader Cohen Johnson.
Throughout the day, students rotated through several safety stations. They watched fire safety videos, practiced crawling through simulated smoke conditions, learned how to stop, drop and roll, and they toured a fire engine.
“I learned how the triangle of how fire starts,” said Jefferson School second grader Rosie McCue.
McCue also said students learned what to do if their clothing catches fire and how families should respond during an evacuation.
“You should stop, drop and roll if it's on your clothes, and you should try to exit the building and then meet up with your family at your meeting place,” she said.
Johnson explained one of the lessons firefighters taught about the fire triangle.
“To make a fire, you have to have oxygen, wood and fuel and flames,” he said.
While traditional fire safety lessons such as escape plans remain a key part of the program, this year's national Fire Prevention Week theme focuses on lithium-ion battery safety.
Lithium-ion batteries are commonly found in cell phones, laptops, electric scooters, power tools and toys. Fire officials say improper charging practices can increase the risk of fires, including using off-brand chargers, overloading electrical outlets or leaving devices plugged in after they are fully charged.
“We've seen several fires with even just people dropping their battery into a trashcan,” said Jason Wendzel, assistant chief with the Helena Fire Department. “It can start the destruction of that battery, which can start a fire.”
Firefighters recommend charging devices on hard, flat surfaces, keeping combustible materials away from charging areas and unplugging devices once they have reached a full charge.
Officials also encourage parents to make sure children know how to call for help during an emergency.
“We've seen kids as young as three or four years old call 911,” Wendzel said.
Another important lesson involves recognizing the warning signs of a damaged lithium-ion battery before it becomes a fire hazard.
“Some things to watch out for: Do they become hot when you're charging them? Has the battery expanded a little bit?” Wendzel said. “Those are kind of some of the cautionary signs before you need to dispose of and get rid of it.”
For Helena firefighters, the goal is to start those safety conversations early and send students home with information they can share with their families.
“If there was a real fire and if you didn't know anything, you would not get out,” Johnson said.
Fire officials say preventing fires starts long before an emergency call comes in. By teaching children practical safety skills and raising awareness about lithium-ion battery hazards, they hope families can stay safer both at home and in an increasingly technology-driven world.
