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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Lake County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

Lithium-ion Battery Fires: Learning to Manage the Risk

37 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

F1 Page 357
Lithium-Ion batteries power a wide range of consumer products, from electric vehicles to e-bikes/e-scooters/electric wheelchairs to e-cigarettes to portable electronic devices to cellphones to solar energy/battery storage facilities.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
Page 358
That the Board of Supervisors authorize OES to prepare educational materials on lithium-ion batteries and fires for distribution to all County employees. (F1- F5)
R2
Page 358
That the County’s six fire protection districts draft emergency response plans regarding causation and mitigation of these battery fires, including online and/or in-person training, for both paid and volunteer firefighters. (F1-F5)
R3
Page 358
That the Lakeport and Clearlake police departments and the Sheriff’s office coordinate with OES to distribute education and mitigation materials to their employees. (F1-F5)
R4
Page 358
That the fire and law-enforcement agencies within the County collect and disseminate data on the ignition source of lithium-ion battery fires to support accurate statistics and thus risk reduction. (F1-F5)
F2 Page 357
The number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries is growing.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
Page 358
That the Board of Supervisors authorize OES to prepare educational materials on lithium-ion batteries and fires for distribution to all County employees. (F1- F5)
R2
Page 358
That the County’s six fire protection districts draft emergency response plans regarding causation and mitigation of these battery fires, including online and/or in-person training, for both paid and volunteer firefighters. (F1-F5)
R3
Page 358
That the Lakeport and Clearlake police departments and the Sheriff’s office coordinate with OES to distribute education and mitigation materials to their employees. (F1-F5)
R4
Page 358
That the fire and law-enforcement agencies within the County collect and disseminate data on the ignition source of lithium-ion battery fires to support accurate statistics and thus risk reduction. (F1-F5)
F3 Page 357
Lithium-ion fires have unique attributes and are difficult to extinguish
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
Page 358
That the Board of Supervisors authorize OES to prepare educational materials on lithium-ion batteries and fires for distribution to all County employees. (F1- F5)
R2
Page 358
That the County’s six fire protection districts draft emergency response plans regarding causation and mitigation of these battery fires, including online and/or in-person training, for both paid and volunteer firefighters. (F1-F5)
R3
Page 358
That the Lakeport and Clearlake police departments and the Sheriff’s office coordinate with OES to distribute education and mitigation materials to their employees. (F1-F5)
R4
Page 358
That the fire and law-enforcement agencies within the County collect and disseminate data on the ignition source of lithium-ion battery fires to support accurate statistics and thus risk reduction. (F1-F5)
F4 Page 357
These fires have four major impacts: injuries/deaths, emergency agencies’ response, service disruption, and monetary losses.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
Page 358
That the Board of Supervisors authorize OES to prepare educational materials on lithium-ion batteries and fires for distribution to all County employees. (F1- F5)
R2
Page 358
That the County’s six fire protection districts draft emergency response plans regarding causation and mitigation of these battery fires, including online and/or in-person training, for both paid and volunteer firefighters. (F1-F5)
R3
Page 358
That the Lakeport and Clearlake police departments and the Sheriff’s office coordinate with OES to distribute education and mitigation materials to their employees. (F1-F5)
R4
Page 358
That the fire and law-enforcement agencies within the County collect and disseminate data on the ignition source of lithium-ion battery fires to support accurate statistics and thus risk reduction. (F1-F5)
F5 Page 357
The public generally is not well informed about safe storage, charging, and disposal of lithium-ion batteries in consumer products.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
Page 358
That the Board of Supervisors authorize OES to prepare educational materials on lithium-ion batteries and fires for distribution to all County employees. (F1- F5)
R2
Page 358
That the County’s six fire protection districts draft emergency response plans regarding causation and mitigation of these battery fires, including online and/or in-person training, for both paid and volunteer firefighters. (F1-F5)
R3
Page 358
That the Lakeport and Clearlake police departments and the Sheriff’s office coordinate with OES to distribute education and mitigation materials to their employees. (F1-F5)
R4
Page 358
That the fire and law-enforcement agencies within the County collect and disseminate data on the ignition source of lithium-ion battery fires to support accurate statistics and thus risk reduction. (F1-F5)
F6 Page 357
Drafting and disseminating emergency response plans to fire departments and law-enforcement agencies would enhance the professionals’ understanding of and reactions to these critical incidents.
No recommendations for this finding
F7 Page 357
Fire blankets and certain foams can be helpful in providing adjuncts to fire agencies’ response to these fires in addition to relying on water alone. Page | 356 2024-2025 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report RECOMMENDATIONS
No recommendations for this finding

Additional Recommendations 1

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.