Livingston Township declared Oct. 4 through Oct. 12 as Fire Prevention Week, with the 2026 campaign zeroing in on lithium-ion battery charging safety.

The township's announcement, reported by the West Essex Tribune, aligns with the national campaign run by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA, which has sponsored Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years, themed the 2026 push "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower!"

Phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, scooters and power tools all run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Those batteries pack dense energy. If damaged or charged incorrectly, they can overheat, catch fire or explode, according to the NFPA.

The NFPA does not yet track the number of U.S. home fires involving lithium-ion batteries. But an increasing number of battery fires and explosions reported by fire departments, news outlets and other sources underscores the hazard, the association said.

The Livingston Volunteer Fire Department responded to 21 general fire alarms and 1,208 miscellaneous emergency calls in 2025, according to Patch. The department operates with a full-time chief and assistant chief alongside volunteer firefighters on call around the clock.

Livingston's declared dates extend two days beyond the NFPA's national window of Oct. 4–10.

Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy, said in a Sept. 23 press release that "not everyone is aware of the potential dangers … when it comes to charging them safely." The 2026 campaign aims to help people "practice simple habits that can help greatly reduce those risks," Carli said.

The NFPA's safety guidance for residents:

• Use the right charger. Stick with the cord and charger that came with your device, or ones approved by the manufacturer. A mismatched charger can damage the battery and raise fire risk.
• Charge on hard, flat surfaces. Beds, couches and pillows trap heat and block airflow, which can cause overheating.
• Watch for warning signs. Stop using a device that feels very hot, starts to swell, smokes or gives off a strange smell.
• Unplug when fully charged. Leaving a device plugged in longer than needed adds heat and stress to the battery.
• Charge e-bikes, scooters and power tools outside. Keep them away from exits. Their larger batteries store more energy, and fires from them can grow and spread fast.

More information is available on the NFPA's Fire Prevention Week campaign page at nfpa.org.