In the United States, lamps and heaters have been recalled as a fire warning around lithium-ion. batteries were issued.

Although they are used daily to power electrical devices, lithium batteries can explode and start fires without warning. An increasing number of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries have been reported recently around the world.

A recall notice was issued on November 7 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for 5,300 units of Tala’s The Muse portable lamp. Portable lights currently sold on the company’s website are not affected.

The recalled lamps, distributed by Tala North America, are described as being prone to an electrical malfunction that could cause the bulb to fail and the lithium-ion battery to overheat, ultimately causing a fire hazard. The problem is low risk, according to Tala North America, with an incidence rate of 0.0074 percent.

The affected lamps are made in China and were sold online at West Elm, One Kings Lane, Lumens, Lulu & Georgia, Lightology and Anthropologie from September 2021 to July 2024. Prices range from $275 to $495.

The affected batch codes are 01/21, 01/22, 01/23 and 01/24 and are printed on the base of the lamps. The CPSC advises anyone in possession of a recalled lamp to stop using the product and contact Tala North America for a free replacement bulb.

News week emailed Tala North America for comment.

The GoveeLife and Govee Smart electric heaters were also recalled by the CPSC due to fire and burn hazards posed by overheating.

It is estimated that approximately 512,500 units in the United States would be affected, with an additional 48,600 units in Canada.

The CDSC says GoveeLife and Govee received 113 reports of overheating, including seven reports of fire and one report of a minor burn. News week emailed GoveeLife and Govee for comment.

The affected radiators have model numbers H7130 (including variant H7130101), H7131, H7132, H7133, H7134 and H7135 printed on the side. These heaters were available for purchase online from a number of retailers including TikTok store, with prices ranging from $31.80 to $106.63.

Persons in possession of these dangerous heaters should cut the power cord and send photographic proof of the destroyed heater to GoveeLife or Govee to receive a refund.

Lithium-ion battery fires are increasing. On October 30, a fire broke out at a lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Fredericktown, Missouri.

This follows an August event in Burke County, North Carolina, when a minivan seat caught fire after the battery in a children’s e-book overheated. A house fire linked to a lithium-ion battery also occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in August when a dog chewed an external battery.

In February this year, journalist Fazil Khan was killed when a fire, sparked by an electric bike battery malfunction, gutted an apartment building in Harlem, New York.

In South Korea, at least 20 people were killed in a fire in a lithium battery manufacturing plant in June.

Due to the increase in incidents nationwide, the Chicago Fire Department is now monitoring lithium-ion battery fires.

In July, New York City Hall reported that since 2019, there have been 733 fires started by lithium-ion batteries, which have killed 29 people and injured 442. Fires linked to lithium batteries are more difficult to turn off as they require much more water than regular ones.

To combat this, New York Mayor Eric Adams and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) invested $1 million in advertising campaigns designed to raise awareness about lithium batteries.

Additionally, Chicago firefighters recently began tracking lithium-ion battery fires. “If you hear a whistling sound or see smoke, get out and call 911,” said Ryan Rivera, the department’s fire commander.

To protect against lithium battery fires, the U.S. Fire Administration advises storing batteries at room temperature and not charging them at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Use should also be stopped immediately if you notice a change in color, the appearance of an odor, leaking, excess heat, a change in shape, or strange noises coming from lithium-ion batteries.