You know how awfully fond I am of the lithium-ion battery stories. Sometimes, the ones I've covered have been semitrailers full of them overturning and lighting off, or a warehouse full, or - more menacing - a battery storage facility close to residential areas that suddenly goes thermal, and evacuations ensue. 

But mostly, I wind up discussing them in the context of the EVs I am equally fond of. *spits* 

This morning, between a note from Global Travlr and a WattsUpWithThat email about the same event, I thought I had my theme set and ready to go. But when researching, I found something even more disturbing. 

Everything is all tied together by battery fires.

Europe is (thankfully) way ahead of us on the climate-culture-induced EV madness, even as far as their public safety vehicles go. Where many American cities are only just beginning to get that first "electric" fire truck...

Elected officials and local luminaries Thursday marked the completion of San Diego's new, environmentally friendly fire station near the UC San Diego campus.

Fire Station 52 is two stories tall, has more than 14,000 square feet and is part of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department's Battalion 5. It is the first in the city to feature an electric fire apparatus and rapid electric vehicle charging station.

"I'm excited to celebrate the completion of this top-notch facility featuring San Diego's first electric fire truck and rapid charger," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. "Thanks to our partnership with UC San Diego, we're delivering on our promise to increase fire protection and life-safety coverage across San Diego."

...or are bummed the feds dropped the ball paying for the one they already ordered and now the city's stuck with the tab...

St. Paul on the hook for $1.8 million electric fire truck after federal funding fell through

...what Green grifting officials in every last venue need to do is pay attention to lessons they could learn from people who have been doing this a lot longer than Americans have.

First things first, for a shiny new fire station like San Diego's, make sure it has a fire alarm system.

Especially if it has *check notes* an electric fire truck or emergency vehicle anything.

A new fire station in Germany that was destroyed in a fire, causing millions of euros in damage, did not have a fire alarm system.

The fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the Stadtallendorf fire station in Hesse and destroyed the equipment hall and almost a dozen emergency vehicles, according to local media.

Initial estimates put the damage at between €20 million and €24 million. No one was injured.

Local officials told the German news agency dpa that no fire alarm system was installed in the building because experts had considered it not necessary — much to the astonishment of many observers now that the station has burned down.

Because...well...

...The fire broke out on an emergency vehicle belonging to the fire department, which contained lithium-ion batteries and an external power connection.

As someone in the comments notes:

 "If you think it's expensive to do it the correct way, wait till you see how much it costs to do it the cheap way."

#truism

This illustrates what a battery fire on a smaller station apparatus did to a truck parked in another fire station garage. Hot and furious.

Lithium Ion Battery Fire on a fire apparatus inside the station. The suspected point of origin is an electric battery operated fan. pic.twitter.com/cOSxAcEqjy

— Rob O'Donnell (@odonnell_r) January 7, 2023

Imagine if it were the massive battery for the fire truck or the new gen ambulance. Big badda boom.

The fire-alarm-free fire station side of the story is bad and funny at the same time, I know. Especially when it seems like there are so many of these stories anymore, you can't be sure if you see less of them because they are so common they're not interesting or if the Green lobby wants them buried.

I do know they are there, but I have to go looking.

This brings me to what I found digging around for some more information on fire departments, trucks, etc. I didn't go any further than this tragic Xweet.

Tragic lithium-ion battery fire in Brighton Beach early Wednesday claimed one life, with two injured. Thanks to the efforts of Battalion 43, Engine 246, and Ladder 169, the fire was contained. One firefighter was injured but is expected to recover. pic.twitter.com/XgvkKCgg0J

— FDNY UFA (@UFANYC) October 19, 2024

It's a horrible story, and I wanted to know what kind of battery caused the fire.

An E-bike did this.

Oh, it's a ghastly story, and a very important warning is buried four paragraphs down.

A 69-year-old Brooklyn man died when he was trapped in his apartment early Wednesday by a fire sparked by an exploding e-bike battery, FDNY officials said.

The victim was killed by the blaze that broke out about 3:40 a.m. Wednesday in his second-floor apartment on Brighton 3rd St. near Brightwater Court in Brighton Beach.

FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn said the victim was unable to escape after a lithium ion battery stored in his apartment blew up.

“The device was blocking the egress of the person that succumbed to their injuries,” Flynn said, speaking to reporters outside the building. “Do not put these devices between you and the front door. You have to have a plan. Make sure you can get out.”

Well, no kidding, but convenience usually wins, and you don't think about such things until it's too late. Don't have the fire source between you and your only exit.

Do you know what else was in the story? A statistic that absolutely floored me.

...Fourteen people were killed in e-bike fires in New York City last year. There have been four fatal fires caused by lithium ion batteries so far this year, the FDNY said. In 2022 there were six similar deaths, and in 2021 there were four.

“This is number four and it’s too many,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. “I will not stop talking about unregulated lithium ion batteries and the dangers that they cause until we’re at zero.”

Flynn said it was “impossible” for people to put out lithium ion fires on their own.

Fourteen people died in NYC alone because of these things last year?! Are you kidding me?

This year the number of deaths is down, thank God, but not the number of fires. The difference is where people are storing those bikes.

For once, they are listening to warnings.

E-bike battery fires are continuing at an alarming rate in New York, but there's a positive twist: The number of people dying has plummeted, the FDNY says.

The reason? People seem to be heeding warnings to keep e-bike batteries outside, where fires are less deadly.

Fires caused by exploding lithium-ion batteries from e-bikes and other micromobility devices used by meal delivery workers are the city’s biggest, and newest, fire threat. Last year, 28 people died from such blazes, leading to the deadliest year for fires in the city in two decades.

The number of battery fires hasn't abated. As of Thursday, there were 134 so far this year, which is about the same as last year at this time, according to the FDNY. But the big difference is with fatalities from those fires: 13 at this point last year, and just one so far this year.

Injuries have also dropped dramatically, from 92 to 55.

HOLY SMOKING APARTMENT BUILDING

Yeah, those little scooty things are perfect for buzzing around the city, and they tuck right inside your apartment door real snug...

Watch FSRI’s new PSA to learn about the potential dangers of lithium-ion battery-powered devices and how you can Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety to prevent fires and protect your loved ones. For more tips, visit https://t.co/EmDxqkza4x. #BatteryFireSafety @FDNY @ATFHQ @USfire pic.twitter.com/oHOIWRGPag

— Fire Safety Research Institute (@FSRI_org) November 15, 2023

...when that's the last place they should be.

I am wracking my brain trying to think of a similar product causing comparable carnage, death, and public endangerment that wouldn't have already been banned.

LAUGHS MANIACALLY IN LAWN DARTS AND CLICK-CLACKERS

#OnThisDay 1971: Modern kids can keep their Pokémon! Back in BBC Archive's day we had Clackers. Good, old-fashioned, potentially deadly Clackers. pic.twitter.com/1K76WhZbEo

— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) October 5, 2018