Latest news with #fireSafety
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Lithium-ion battery causes explosion inside Fond du Lac home, no one hurt
FOND DU LAC – No one was hurt after an explosion was reported in a Fond du Lac living room Wednesday night. Fond du Lac Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the residence at around 11:36 p.m. June 18. When they arrived, they found a lithium-ion battery had been charging in the living room and overheated, causing a thermal runaway. The department said the fire was extinguished by the resident and crews determined there was no extension of the fire. The explosion damaged the floor and wall of the residence. Read more: Remember when Vulcan Manufacturing was a significant steel producer? Its projects still support Fond du Lac buildings. Fond du Lac Fire Rescue said in the release: 'Lithium-ion batteries have become a core component of modern life, powering everything from smartphones and laptops to e-bikes and power tools. However, as demand grows, so does the influx of cheaply made, uncertified batteries and chargers — many of which do not meet the rigorous safety standards established by Underwriters Laboratories.' As a result, the department shared the following 'key safety requirements' for lithium-ion batteries: Only use batteries and chargers that are UL listed (such as UL 1642, UL 2054, UL 62133, UL 2271); Purchase from reputable manufacturers and retailers; Avoid mixing components (like using a third-party charger with an unverified battery); Regularly inspect batteries for signs of damage, swelling or overheating; and Never charge batteries unattended or overnight. Contact Brandon Reid at breid@ This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac explosion inside home was caused by lithium-ion battery
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
E-scooter thrown in Basildon bin causes refuse lorry fire
Part of a refuse lorry caught fire after an e-scooter was incorrectly disposed into a wheelie bin and caught workers called 999 after noticing flames as they drove along Church Road in Basildon, Essex, on Thursday station manager Jason Gould said crews managed to remove the burning material before it spread throughout the urged people not to dispose of lithium-ion batteries or items containing them in their general waste. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Berkeley passes EMBER proposal, creating strict fire safety regulations
While there was heavy opposition, the Berkeley City Council voted unanimously to implement one of the strictest fire safety regulations in the state. The EMBER proposal would force residents to clear any vegetation within 5 feet of a home, and it would go into effect at the end of this year. But a group of Berkeley hills residents said they are contemplating pursuing legal action. The talk high above Grizzly Peak in the Berkeley Hills is all about the EMBER proposal. George Perez Velez with the Alliance for Practical Fire Solutions was disappointed with the council's vote. "I was not surprised," said Perez Velez. "I was heartbroken. I knew that the city had already made its mind up." Perez Velez feels the proposal is overreaching and puts a financial burden on homeowners who can't afford to comply with the new regulations. He said the alliance is talking about what the next steps should be. "I think that some members within the alliance are exploring the possibility of taking legal action in certain aspects of the proposal," he said. The public comment on the EMBER agenda item took hours. Some commend the council for taking action before the state announces its regulations in 2029. "We cannot wait for the state because fires don't wait," said resident Dara Schur. The council promised to review and make changes to EMBER as it gets ready to roll out the ordinance in the next year. Some residents said the tougher regulations couldn't come soon enough. "This ordinance may not be perfect," said Schur. "It might need some tweaking, but it is better to act now to protect our homes and preserve insurance than it is to wait." Some fellow neighbors disagree. They feel like there's too much ambiguity with EMBER, making it difficult to comply with all the rules. "I think it's a flawed, ineffectual, incomplete action," said resident Fred Bamber. The Alliance for Practical Fire Solutions has 30 days to decide whether to take legal action. Perez Velez said the entire community is committed to keeping the area safe from the next big fire. The question is, what's the best way to make that happen. "Is this really necessary," said Perez Velez. "Is this proposal going to accomplish what they say it is going to accomplish."
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Worcester Barbourne Works lower-floor residents allowed home
A large number of residents forced to evacuate their apartment block over dangerous cladding and fire safety risk nearly two weeks ago are set to return people, including eight children, were told to leave the Barbourne Works in Worcester on 4 June, after fire inspectors raised a safety and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS), which placed the building under a prohibition notice, said it was now safe for the ground and first floors to be FirstPort, the building's management agent, said the second and third floors still did not meet the required standards for fire escape, and work was continuing. The evacuation took place after fire inspectors found problems that dated back to when the former factory was converted to flats 20 years ago. "[But] we are pleased to be able to welcome residents of the ground and first floors back home and we sincerely thank them for their patience and support over the last two weeks whilst we've works through this complex situation," a FirstPort spokesperson said. 'Risk was so severe' The firm had taken a central role in co-ordinating a response to the safety alert, which involved working with stakeholders including Homes England, the fire service, the building's freeholder and council. "Unfortunately, for residents of the second and third floors the prohibition notice remains in place, as these units currently do not meet the required standards for fire escape," the spokesperson added. Work is continuing to implement safety measures so the upper floors could be re-occupied "as soon as possible". Inspectors found dangers "so significant and the risk to residents was so severe" that the notice was issued and residents had to leave the 46 flats. Some residents told the BBC they were shocked, had "absolutely no warning" and had to quickly leave their homes. Forty-seven people went to stay with family and friends and 13 went to a rest centre before being put up in hotels, fire service group commander Simon Cusack said previously. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CNA
4 days ago
- CNA
Jail for man who forged signatures in letters on fire safety over NLB renovation works
SINGAPORE: An employee of a project consultant who wanted to "finish the job quicker" used the signature of a professional engineer on documents concerning fire safety requirements without the engineer's permission. The forged documents that Ma Lai Fatt, 56, submitted were for works at the basement of the National Library Board (NLB) in Bugis. Ma was sentenced to three months' jail on Tuesday (Jun 17) after he pleaded guilty to two out of three counts of forgery, with the last taken into consideration for his sentencing. The NLB renovated its building to convert existing space to office use in basement two. The works in 2022 involved the installation of a mobile pod, an enclosed booth for staff use, and wall partitions in another area. For the works, NLB engaged P&A Link, an interior design company which was also a renovation contractor. P&A then engaged Marchitects as a project consultant for the renovation works. Ma was an employee of Marchitects. Ma was responsible for liaising with principal engineers, who were qualified to give certification for compliance with fire safety regulations. The regulations concerned the installation of sprinklers that covered the mobile pod, and a public announcement system in the area with the new wall partitions. For the mobile pod, P&A felt that it would not be necessary to install sprinklers within the pod, as the existing sprinklers on the ceiling above would cover the pod in the event of a fire. P&A could apply for a waiver for the requirement to install sprinklers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), but it needed the endorsement of a principal engineer. P&A then asked Marchitects to obtain endorsement from a principal engineer. Around Oct 30, 2021, Ma created a letter and affixed the signature of a principal engineer, Mr Chen Kum Seng, on it without Mr Chen's authorisation. Ma had extracted Mr Chen's signature from previous documents out of his own convenience, and from a desire to "finish the job quicker", the prosecution said. Unaware of the forgery, P&A submitted the letter to NLB on Nov 1, 2021. Similarly for the wall partitions, P&A felt that no modification of the existing public announcement system was needed. P&A was required to submit an undertaking by a principal engineer to SCDF to show that the system would not be impacted by the installation of the new wall partitions. P&A approached Marchitects to obtain an undertaking from a principal engineer. Around Mar 4, 2022, Ma created an undertaking letter to state that the addition of the partitions within the space did not affect the sound volume of the public announcement system. He again attached Mr Chen's electronic signature on the letter without his permission. This letter was submitted to NLB on Apr 14, 2022. A sound test on Jul 13, 2022 showed that certain areas within the new partitioned space failed to meet the minimum volume requirements required by the SCDF. In late June 2022, while reviewing two electronic letters from P&A, an NLB officer noticed that the mobile number stated on two documents did not belong to the companies involved, or to Mr Chen. The officer also found that Mr Chen's signatures could be moved around, and the content of the letters could be modified. NLB sought Mr Chen's verification and the principal engineer confirmed he did not issue the letters. NLB then lodged a police report. While there was no monetary loss arising from Ma's offences, NLB had to delay its opening to remedy the effects of Ma's actions. The prosecution asked for Ma to be jailed for at least three months. Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Shiau Yin said a jail term was warranted due to the seriousness of the mischief, which occurred on multiple occasions. Ms Wong highlighted that the forgery concerned public safety issues. "Had the forgery not been detected and remedied in time, the existing public announcement system would pose a real risk to NLB staff in the event of a fire as it would not have been loud enough to inform NLB staff about potential emergencies," Ms Wong said. A defence lawyer from Exodus Law Corporation reiterated that Ma had not gained financially, nor caused any monetary loss.
