Battery Events Involving Lithium-Ion Batteries
The following statements are intended for guidance purposes only. Only properly trained and equipped personnel should respond to a battery event.
The most effective way to prevent a lithium-ion battery event is to discharge the battery before opening the device or working on or near the battery. A battery with a charge of less than 25% will be unable to produce a thermal event.
If a battery begins to emit smoke or sparks, or if you hear hissing or popping sounds, the battery is most likely undergoing a thermal runaway. The most effective way to stop the reaction is to smother it IMMEDIATELY with plenty of clean, dry sand. As soon as you notice that a battery thermal event is underway, pour all of the sand, all at once, over the battery to cover it completely. This will smother the reaction and limit the amount of smoke produced.
Do not attempt to use water or an ABC/CO2 fire extinguisher on a thermal runaway battery, as these will not be effective at stopping the reaction and will create a bigger mess to clean up.