‘Charge’ towards fire safety: IL officials announce Fire Prevention Week theme

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Illinois officials have announced the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week, and they are hoping it encourages residents to be safer around an item that’s almost always on hand.

Fire officials will focus on lithium-ion battery safety; they’re in electronics we use every day like smartphones, tablets, power and lawn tools, laptops, e-cigarettes, headphones and toys.

“This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign emphasizes the critical importance of safely using lithium-ion batteries to help prevent fires in our homes,” said Acting Illinois State Fire Marshal Allen Reyne. “By following the Buy, Charge, and Recycle Safely approach, we can reduce risks and protect our communities. We look forward to working alongside our partners to share this vital safety message—not only during Fire Prevention Week, but throughout the year—to help build a safer, more fire-resilient Illinois.”

The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) said there are several things that everyone can do to stay safe around lithium-ion batteries. This includes:

• Purchasing batteries that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory
• Stop charging a battery once it is full
• Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device; to be safe, only use the charging equipment that is supplied with your device
• Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color
• Have all repairs performed by a qualified professional

You can learn more about Fire Prevention Week here. It’ll take place from Oct. 5-11, 2025.