The device sitting on the couch. The cellphone charging overnight. The e-bike parked in the hallway.
They may seem like ordinary parts of everyday life, but Barrie Fire Service Public Educator Kate Foster says they can also create fire risks when lithium-ion batteries aren't charged properly.
Fire Prevention Week runs Oct. 4 to 10, and this year's theme from the National Fire Protection Association is “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” The campaign is focused on helping people safely charge the growing number of devices that use lithium-ion batteries.
Foster says those batteries are now so common that most people don't have to look far to find one.
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“You can usually look around your house, your space, and even on your person and find a lithium-ion battery,” she says.
That includes cellphones, tablets, toys and power tools, along with e-bikes and scooters.
One of the first things Foster wants people to think about is the charger they're using.
“Not all chargers are created equally,” she says.
Her advice is to buy chargers from reputable stores and check that the product has the appropriate testing laboratory approval to meet Canadian testing standards.
Where a device is charged is also important.
Foster says phones and other devices should never be charged on a couch, bed or other soft surface.
“Your best bet is always to make sure if you're charging a device that you are charging it on a hard, flat surface — a table, a desk, a countertop,” she says. “Give it space to breathe.”
Soft surfaces can prevent heat from escaping properly, increasing the risk of overheating.
Foster says that can become particularly concerning when people fall asleep with their devices charging in bed.
“We unfortunately do see fires starting in our sofas or even in beds,” she says. “I know that teens love their devices, and sometimes they fall asleep in their bed with it charging. We don't want that to be the case.”
Fire Prevention Week 2026 is here! This year’s @NFPA theme is all about the power of making safe choices — and we’re bringing that message to life with our Safe Charging Superheroes! See how many you can collect... because fire safety really is a superpower! ⚡ #FPW2026 https://t.co/enMYJFMdbK
— Barrie Fire (@Barrie_Fire) October 4, 2026
Once a device is fully charged, Foster says it's time to unplug it.
She compares the process to letting a person power down.
“I say our devices are like humans. They need time to power down.”
The same caution applies to larger lithium-ion battery-powered devices, including e-bikes, scooters and mobility devices.
Foster says people living in apartments or other shared buildings need to think about how charging a device could affect their neighbours.
“If you are in those shared spaces, our biggest thing is to make sure that when you're charging it, you're not charging it in what we call a means of egress,” she says.
That means avoiding places people would use to exit a building, such as doorways and hallways.
“If it does fail, you've now impacted people's ability to get out of that space safely and quickly,” Foster says.
She also recommends giving larger devices plenty of space while charging and setting a timer as a reminder to unplug them.
“These devices, we don't want to be asking too much of them," Foster added.
There are also warning signs that a battery or device may be malfunctioning.
Foster says people should pay attention if a device becomes unusually hot, develops a burning smell or starts making unusual noises.
“If you feel it heating up, then unplug it right away and even turn the power off and give it a chance to sort of power down for a minute,” she says.
“You might smell a bit of a burning smell. You could even hear some odd noises. And when you hear that, it's your device saying, ‘I'm malfunctioning.’”
Foster says the fire service is also having to keep learning as technology changes.
“We are incredibly dedicated to staying current and up to date with anything that's new, new technology, but also making sure that we're constantly in training to learn what might be the best suppression methods for this new technology,” she says.
“Because as we get new technology, we get new challenges.”
That makes education an important part of Fire Prevention Week — not only for the public, but for firefighters themselves.
“We even have classrooms in our stations to make sure that we are constantly learning and growing and ready for whatever challenge comes up,” Foster says.
From microwaves decades ago to today's e-bikes, scooters and rechargeable devices, Foster says fire prevention has always had to evolve alongside technology.
“There's always going to be something new because we're going to be growing and developing, learning and innovating,” she says.
“So we in the fire service take that seriously, and we want to be just as capable to handle what comes up.”
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK COMMUNITY EVENTS:
- Georgian College pop-up on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m., at 1 Georgian Dr.
- Ask Barrie Fire session at RONA+ on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m., Rona+, 71 Bryne Dr.
- Barrie Fire Takeover and Kids Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m., at Home Depot, 10 Barrie View Dr.
