FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A Fresno family woke up to a scary situation after a lithium-ion battery charging overnight began sparking and smoking inside their home.

The Fresno Fire Department says firefighters were called to the house Thursday morning after the family ran out of the house.

Firefighters arrived and quickly removed the smoking battery and electric scooter before the fire could spread, preventing significant damage.

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Fire officials say lithium-ion battery fires are becoming more common as the batteries are used in devices like e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools, and cell phones.

While generally safe when used properly, damaged, defective, or improperly charged batteries can fail and ignite without warning.

The Fresno Fire Department gave several tips for charging lithium-ion batteries:

Only use manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers.Do not leave batteries charging longer than necessary.Disconnect batteries from chargers once charging is complete.Charge batteries on hard, non-combustible surfaces.Keep batteries away from exits, combustible materials, and direct sunlight.If a battery begins to smoke, spark, swell, or emit an unusual odor, move away and call 911Comment with Bubbles

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