JimH
Flashlight Enthusiast
Last night a Battery Station Lithium AA battery spontaneously exploded and almost burned down my house.
I was sitting in my easy chair watching TV and reading a book when I heard a loud popping sound. I jumped up and saw copious amounts of smoke and fumes coming out of my stainless steel tool chest.
I opened the top drawer where most of the smoke was coming from and saw nothing out of the ordinary. By this time smoke and fumes had filled the room making it extremely difficult to breath. I then opened the drawer below the top drawer - 3 inch flames came shooting out of the drawer - breathing was now impossible.
I escaped outside the house to catch my breath. By the time I located a fire extinguisher and returned to the room with the tool chest the fire was distinguishing of its own accord. It was still impossible to breath in the room so I opened a bunch of windows and turned on the whole house exhaust fan that is normally only used in the summer.
I estimate that the flames lasted a little over a minute - more than enough time to set my house on fire had the lantern containing the batteries not been contained in the steel tool chest.
I was very surprised at the very large amount of smoke, noxious fumes and fire that were created by only a single AA battery.
The drawer containing the lantern with the offending batteries contained a variety of flashlight parts. The contents of the drawer, including the lantern had been undisturbed in the drawer for approximately 8 months.
I estimate that the batteries were approximately 15 months old and had been used in the lantern for no more than an hour.
I hate to imagine the carnage that would have been caused if the lantern had been stored in one of the many other locations around the house where I keep such things.
Post explosion photos are shown below. The bottom of the lantern was blown completely to the opposite side of the draw by the explosion. I am now on search and destroy mission to rid my house of all Battery Station batteries.
I was sitting in my easy chair watching TV and reading a book when I heard a loud popping sound. I jumped up and saw copious amounts of smoke and fumes coming out of my stainless steel tool chest.
I opened the top drawer where most of the smoke was coming from and saw nothing out of the ordinary. By this time smoke and fumes had filled the room making it extremely difficult to breath. I then opened the drawer below the top drawer - 3 inch flames came shooting out of the drawer - breathing was now impossible.
I escaped outside the house to catch my breath. By the time I located a fire extinguisher and returned to the room with the tool chest the fire was distinguishing of its own accord. It was still impossible to breath in the room so I opened a bunch of windows and turned on the whole house exhaust fan that is normally only used in the summer.
I estimate that the flames lasted a little over a minute - more than enough time to set my house on fire had the lantern containing the batteries not been contained in the steel tool chest.
I was very surprised at the very large amount of smoke, noxious fumes and fire that were created by only a single AA battery.
The drawer containing the lantern with the offending batteries contained a variety of flashlight parts. The contents of the drawer, including the lantern had been undisturbed in the drawer for approximately 8 months.
I estimate that the batteries were approximately 15 months old and had been used in the lantern for no more than an hour.
I hate to imagine the carnage that would have been caused if the lantern had been stored in one of the many other locations around the house where I keep such things.
Post explosion photos are shown below. The bottom of the lantern was blown completely to the opposite side of the draw by the explosion. I am now on search and destroy mission to rid my house of all Battery Station batteries.
