Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) wants e-bike and scooter owners to charge those devices outdoors and away from exits, part of a weeklong safety push that begins Sunday, Oct. 4.

MDFR serves Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay as part of its county-wide coverage. The department's Fire Prevention Week campaign runs through Saturday, Oct. 10, under the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) 2026 theme: "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower." It is the second straight year the national campaign has focused on lithium-ion battery hazards.

Lithium-ion batteries power phones, laptops, e-bikes, scooters and even cars. They are generally safe when used correctly, according to MDFR. But damaged, overcharged, or poorly made batteries can overheat, explode, or catch fire.

The NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration call battery-related fires a growing concern, according to MDFR's lithium-ion battery safety page. The Fire Safety Research Institute warns that a lithium-ion battery fire can move faster than a typical house fire, leaving occupants less than one minute to escape.

How to charge safely

• Use only the charger and cord that came with the device, or one approved by the manufacturer.
• Charge on a hard, flat surface.
• Charge e-bikes, scooters and power tools outdoors, away from exits.
• Unplug devices once fully charged.
• Stop using any device that gets very hot, swells, smokes, or smells unusual.
• On airplanes, keep devices in sight while charging. Never charge them in overhead bins, and never charge e-cigarettes or vapes on a flight.

The risk is not hypothetical. In a Dec. 4, 2021, house fire, a 38-year-old fire lieutenant died when the floor collapsed at a residential blaze likely started by an electric scooter in a garage, according to FireRescue1. Investigators found the scooter battery likely entered "thermal runaway" after being charged with a third-party charger.

That chemical process can trigger uncontrolled self-heating minutes, hours, or days after damage occurs.

Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy, said in June when the 2026 theme was announced: "Properly charging devices can significantly reduce the risk of fires and associated hazards."

MDFR, led by Fire Chief Ray Jadallah, has posted a social media toolkit in English, Spanish, and Creole on its safety page. Residents with questions can reach the department at 786-331-5000.