HONOLULU (KHON2) — Lithium-ion batteries power many of the devices people rely on every day, from cell phones and laptops to e-bikes and electric vehicles. But the Honolulu Fire Department says those same batteries are now behind a growing number of fires across the island.
HFD Fire Inspector Thomas Inouye says investigators are seeing lithium-ion batteries more frequently at fire scenes.
Battery Bill on how to protect your home, business from battery-related fires
“Investigators are going more often to fires and finding that lithium-ion batteries have been on an uptick, causing more structure fires,” Inouye said.
HFD confirms five fires in 2022 were linked to lithium-ion batteries. That number doubled in 2023 to 11, then jumped to 34 fires in 2024 and 37 fires last year…