Red Deer Emergency Services encourages residents to be safe when charging batteries
Published 12:23 pm Saturday, October 3, 2026
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The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week is “Safe charging is a superpower.”
On Saturday, Oct. 3, Red Deer Emergency Services hosted an open house at Fire Station No. 5 in the city’s north end to encourage residents to be safe when charging batteries.
“With all the lithium-ion batteries in the world today, we want people to be mindful and ensure they’re safely charging their batteries to ensure they don’t cause fires,” said acting fire chief Curtis Schaefer.
Fires being started by unsafe charging “are becoming more of a trend. It’s becoming more common, with people buying more electric scooters and electric bikes. People buying aftermarket charging devices and batteries is our biggest concern. We want people to only by Canadian Standards Association-approved chargers and batteries to help reduce the risk.”
The open house featured a free barbecue, fire extinguisher demonstration, firetrucks and ambulances, and more.
“We’re trying to capture everything here at the open house to help the public feel safer and be safer in our community,” said Schaefer.
“We have Electric Light and Power here to talk about the electrical safety side of things. We also have our dispatch centre here to talk about calling 911 and emergency management.”
A public message from the Office of the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal states that damaged batteries, improper charging practices, manufacturing defects or exposure to extreme temperatures can cause a battery to fail.
“In rare cases, this may lead to thermal runaway, resulting in intense fire, toxic smoke or explosion,” the Oct. 2 message stated.
People are advised to stop using a battery or device immediately if they notice swelling or bulging; excessive heat; strange odours; leaking fluids; discolouration or deformation; or hissing, popping, or crackling sounds.
“If safe to do so, move the device away from combustible materials and contact the manufacturer.”
People can follow these precautions to ensure safe charging:
—Use only manufacturer-approved chargers.
— Charge batteries on hard, non-combustible surfaces.
— Plug chargers directly into wall outlets whenever possible.
— Disconnect batteries once fully charged.
— Keep charging devices away from exits and escape routes.
— Never charge batteries under pillows, blankets, or upholstered furniture.
— Avoid leaving batteries charging unattended overnight.