Protecting National Parks from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: Your Role Matters

October 4-10 is Fire Prevention Week

A firefighter extinguishes an e-bike fire in Grand Canyon National Park, July 21, 2026.

NPS

Lithium-ion batteries have started fires in national parks

Lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy in a small space. As such, they have transformed our world. Rechargeable electronics, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, e-scooters, and toys, contain lithium-ion batteries and are used in our homes and workplaces daily. If misused, damaged, or improperly charged, these devices can overheat, start a fire, or explode.

Several recent lithium-ion battery fires in national parks underscore the danger:

• September 5, 2026: Lithium-ion batteries in a boat went into thermal runaway and started to smoke at Wahweap Marina in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• July 27, 2026: An audio tour player in a charging dock started smoking in the cellhouse at Alcatraz, part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area
• July 21, 2026: Firefighters at Grand Canyon National Park responded to an e-bicycle that was burning at an apartment
• June 17, 2025: a unicycle exploded and caught fire at a vacation rental cabin in Wawona, Yosemite National Park, damaging a nearby fence and roof

What you can do

The National Park Service has a few tips to help keep you and your family safe at home, while traveling, or visiting a facility in a national park:

• Buy only listed products. When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, look for a safety certification mark such as UL, ETL, or CSA. This means it meets important safety standards.

• Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Cheap or off-brand chargers may not meet safety standards.

• Charge devices safely. Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged. Do not leave devices unattended while charging.

• Charge large items such as e-bikes and e-scooters outside. Do not block exits when charging in case a fire starts, blocking safe evacuation of the building.

• Stop using your device if it feels hot, starts to swell, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes popping or hissing sounds. A damaged battery can overheat and start a fire.

• Do not check baggage containing lithium-ion devices. Place these devices in carry-on bags and keep devices where you can see them while charging. Tell a flight attendant if you notice a problem with your device or it falls between the seats.

Shane Crutcher, Chief, Division of Fire (left) and Charles Cuvelier (right), Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection sign the 2026 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation.

NPS Photo

About Fire Prevention Week

Each October since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has observed Fire Prevention Week to provide focused public education on the importance of fire and life safety. The October timeframe commemorates the Great Chicago Fire which began on Oct. 8, 1871 and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres.

In 2026, Fire Prevention Week™ is observed from October 4-10, and the National Park Service (NPS) Structural Fire Program will promote the theme “Charge into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging is a Superpower.” This year's theme strives to educate everyone about the safe charging of electronics containing lithium-ion batteries.

The events kicked off with signing the NPS Fire Prevention Week proclamation. Charles Cuvelier, Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection, and Shane Crutcher, Chief, Division of Fire for the NPS signed the proclamation below.

National Park Service Division of Fire
2026 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation

WHEREAS, the National Park Service is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting our national parks; and

WHEREAS, fire remains a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and the presence of lithium-ion batteries in many household devices and work equipment introduce unique fire risks; and

WHEREAS, most of the electronics used in our homes and workplaces daily — including smartphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, e-scooters, and toys — are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which if misused, damaged, or improperly charged, can overheat, start a fire, or explode; and

WHEREAS, the National Fire Protection Association^® (NFPA^®) reports an increase in battery-related fires, underscoring the need for public education on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries and devices; and

WHEREAS, the way lithium-ion battery devices are charged can make a difference in helping prevent home and work fires; and

WHEREAS, safe charging includes using the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer, charging on a hard, flat surface, watching for warning signs like devices that are very hot or start to swell, unplugging when fully charged, and charging larger devices like e-bikes outside and away from exits; and

WHEREAS, park employees, visitors, partners, and volunteers are encouraged to understand that safe charging means making smart choices every time they plug in; and

WHEREAS, the National Park Service is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of fires through prevention, safety education, and community outreach; and

WHEREAS, the 2026 Fire Prevention Week™ theme, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” serves to remind us that safe charging can help reduce the risk of fires in homes, parks, and workplaces;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charles Cuvelier, Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection and Shane Crutcher, Chief, Division of Fire do hereby proclaim October 4–10, 2026 as Fire Prevention Week throughout the National Park Service, and we urge all employees, visitors, partners, and volunteers to learn about and practice safe charging habits.