WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – As rechargeable electronics fill more households, the Wilmington Fire Department is warning residents to rethink how they store and power their devices.
An estimated 198,000 U.S. structure fires have involved lithium-ion batteries since 2011, according to the department. Fire officials caution the true figure could be significantly higher due to reporting gaps.
Most battery-related blazes stem from physical damage, improper disposal or unsafe charging habits…