Common items you may be unaware about have the potential to start house fires. What are they? Batteries…of all things! When you remove batteries from your smoke detector, small appliances, or gadgets, your first move may be to toss them in the trash or recycling receptacle in your home as is. That’s exactly what “Kids and Character” video blogger Dave did, and that very act started a devastating fire a few years ago in his home. Dave removed a 9-volt battery from his smoke detector and tossed it in a recycling bin full of other batteries. He bumped the bin with his laundry basket, which ended up causing a short across the positive and negative terminals of the 9-volt when it most likely came into contact with another battery. This short caused the batteries to heat up and combust. Thankfully Dave and his family (including the pets) made it out safe. It goes without saying to make sure you are disposing your batteries properly. To make sure batteries are safe before recycling or disposing of them, Dave recommends placing a piece of electrical tape over the terminals. This will help ensure the terminals won’t come into contact with other batteries or metal objects—thus, avoiding a potential short. 9-volt batteries have a higher risk of causing a short due to how close the terminals are; though, it is still a good idea to cover AA, AAA, C and D type batteries (all batteries for that matter) even though it is less likely of a fire hazard with those styles. It’s a good safety practice to pass on to your family, friends, and coworkers so they can be in the know. Check out the video below for Dave’s complete story and battery safety tips:

Cover Disposed Battery Terminals with Tape to Avoid Home Fires