Fire chiefs across Canada are raising the alarm about the increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
The batteries are used to charge up everything from smart phones to watches, ear buds, toys, toothbrushes and even bikes and vehicles.
Tech blogger Kevin Andrews says among the top recommendations are to stick with the original manufacturer when buying a replacement charger instead of a cheaper alternative.
The same is true of replacement cables or cords says Andrews and try to stick with the same manufacturer. You make even be able to contact customer service to replace a faulty charger instead of having to buy a new one. Andrews says when charging a phone or laptop, make sure it’s in a safe area and not on a carpet, bed or couch while charging.