A woman lost her home and beloved pets in a devastating house fire that ravaged her property in just 10 minutes – and now she’s urging people to get rid of the common, everyday item that caused it. She shared photos of the damage caused by the flames in a bid to warn others so they could avoid a similar traumatic event.
The blaze was sparked by a lithium battery “spontaneously combusting,” with the flames tearing through Roberta Mander Maghouin’s home and destroying more than 6,000 books she had amassed over the years.
Lithium batteries are used to power a wide range of electronic devices from e-bikes and electric vehicles to smartphones, laptops and more.
According to the British Safety Council, they have been “increasingly linked to serious fires in workplaces and residential buildings,” so knowing their risks and the correct way to dispose of them to avoid a dangerous situation is extremely important.
On Facebook, Roberta shared photos of one of the devastated rooms in her home and penned: “A few days ago we had a lithium battery spontaneously combust. In less than 10 minutes there were flames through the roof. Over 6000 books, likely total loss.
“PSA [public service announcement]: Dispose/recycle unused phones and computers. They can combust simply from ageing, need not be plugged in or anything.”
Roberta and her partner weren’t home at the time so luckily avoided injury but tragically, their cats perished.
It’s believed the fire was started due to a laptop combusting. She possesses a “nearly complete inventory” of her book collection and has “very good insurance” to attempt to recover some possessions.
In the comments section, other social media users were eager to express their thoughts, condolences, and similar experiences.
One person shared: “I am so beyond sorry. This is devastating.”
Another commented: “I am so sorry that this happened to you but thank you for sharing it and warning others. I have really been bummed by how many things you can ONLY get with lithium batteries anymore – for this very reason. This is my worst fear.”
A third said: “I have like 2 old phones and computers that don’t work just sitting in my closet. You’re telling me they’re a fire hazard?”
While a fourth shared: “I’m so sorry this happened. It’s so scary because we have at least 10 old phones and a few laptops in a closet. I’ve got to figure out how to get rid of them!”
Another person said: “[I’ve] had this happen to me too. 6 years ago.”
One more added: “I’m sorry for your loss. I have a friend in Oregon that lost her home too from a battery in their garage.”
And another stated: “Wow I had no idea! I just don’t know how to get rid of them.”
The British Safety Council states: “Fortunately, Lithium-ion battery failures are relatively rare, but in the event of a malfunction, they can represent a serious fire risk.
“They are safe products and meet many EN standards. However, when charged, Li-ion cells store a large amount of energy and are especially sensitive to high temperatures and damage, such as penetration and crushing.
“If a battery degrades, gets hot, or suffers a short circuit, heat and pressure build up inside. Warning signs that a battery is likely to fail include bulging or swelling, sometimes accompanied by other signs such as discharging too fast and/or the battery being hot to the touch.”
To safely dispose of a lithium battery, it should be taken to a specialist recycling facility or collected through a hazardous waste collection service, as they create a fire hazard if placed in domestic rubbish bins.