Lithium battery fire from auger

Tonight I was about 1 minute from catastrophe and am left wondering what I could or should have done differently. I went to my fish house and opened up my holes with my k-drill and Milwaukee drill. I came back and left my drill in the garage. My drill rode home in the back of my ranger. It had snow on it and my buddy left it on the floor of my garage. We went out and fished 3 hours. When we got back, we brought our fishing gear into the garage. I briefly moved the k-drill and drill. A minute later I went out into the garage and noticed and orange glow on the side of the battery, a bit of smoke and a terrible smell. I walked the drill out and dropped the battery into a snow bank (everything is covered in snow right now). The battery continued to catch on fire with flames shooting out of the snow bank. I used a fire extinguisher and it did not put out the fire. There were a couple small explosions and it eventually burned itself out. Now I’m out a $200 battery and was about a minute from burning my garage that’s connected to my house down. I’d like to know what and if I did anything wrong. It seems like lithium batteries catch fire sometimes. We have all been toting the joys of electric augers and mine was about a minute from burning my house down. Good thing I went back out to the garage and didn’t just sit down and eat. Certainly batteries on augers are going to be near snow and water. Is it from the melting snow on it? It it from riding in the back of my Ranger? It it that I turned it a little, causing a short? Is it just bad luck and stuff just happens? Do we all need a reminder to be careful with lithium batteries? Thoughts are appreciated. Not sure what to do differently in the future. Maybe we can all learn something that may keep us safer.

Glad you caught it in time and everything turned out as good as possible, all things considered.

I dont know but I have a lithium on the charger right now in the basement that I feel inclined to go check on.

Glad your situation didn’t go from bad to worse

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/News/Safety-Notices/Expanded-Warning-On-The-M18-HIGH-DEMAND-9-0-Battery

This is the battery I was using. I had not seen this warning. It says avoid corrosive fluids like sea water. I’m not sure I would have not used this battery as it would drill lots of holes.

I really think that your battery was defective or should I say made poor enough that it failed. Some how it shorted the positive and negative causing the fire. I would take pictures and contact Milwaukee to see if they can help you out. It should be able to take a certain amount of abuse without failing.

There have been cases of the lithium batteries in Teslas doing this as well and burning down houses. From what I hear, they are nearly impossible to put out and you pretty much just have to let them burn out. It doesn’t sound like you did anything particularly wrong here. Glad you caught it in time.

Hmmm… Now contemplating building a little covered box to have out in they yard and run an extension cord out to in order to charge. But I wonder if charging would even work out in the cold.

Or still charge in the garage but put within an old safe?

Yikes.

You say the drill was in the back of your ranger and on the garage floor. I wonder if a little road salt could have caused the issue, especially from what the safety notice said. Not to mention the typical beating drills usually see.

I’m glad things didn’t go from bad to worse for you.

queenswake wrote:

Hmmm… Now contemplating building a little covered box to have out in they yard and run an extension cord out to in order to charge. But I wonder if charging would even work out in the cold.

Or still charge in the garage but put within an old safe?

Yikes.

I think a safe might be overkill. You however could set it in a metal pail if you are concerned.

No road salt. Ranger sits in my driveway and drives out onto the lake I live on.

The fire would not go out with 2 fire extinguishers. Used a white one from a prior boat and a red one. I had to let it burn out in a snow bank.

I wish I had a video, but I’m trying to keep the situation in control not document it. The flame was shooting out the bottom left side of the battery with no visible damage prior.

I think this is a problem battery for Milwaukee. I will talk with em on Monday. Just wanted other people to be aware of the 9 ah high demand battery.

You live in Minnesota? Acme Tools is a big ass Milwaukee dealer. Maybe check with them on options / solutions.

The scary part is I mail ordered this from Home Depot with a string trimmer. These things are being shipped all over by carriers. Yes, I’m in MN.

Yeah some of the 9.0s are under recall. Call them and they will send you a replacement 8.0 which is actually a better battery. May have to send in pics for proof. However I would not ship it back to them, even if they ask.

Probably need a type D fire extinguisher.

type D fire extinguisher
If so, you will need to have a type D fire extinguisher. In the event of a fire, types A, B, and C fire extinguishing agents will react with combustible metals. Therefore, unique agents such as potassium and sodium are used in type D fire extinguishers to put out fires with combustible metals.

munchy wrote:

Yeah some of the 9.0s are under recall. Call them and they will send you a replacement 8.0 which is actually a better battery. May have to send in pics for proof. However I would not ship it back to them, even if they ask.

Don’t think you can even ship lithium batteries. At least not at fed ex. One of the first things they ask. I have RC cars that run lithium batteries that they make fire proof pouches for. Big enough for a Milwaukee battery or two. Check out a hub hobby or somewhere they sell RC cars. Or Amazon they are like 20 bucks.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Don’t think you can even ship lithium batteries.

Lithium batteries can be shipped ground only by both UPS and FedEx but they’re treated as hazardous materials. All of the batteries we use with our film equipment are lithium ion and we get deliveries from both carriers. I do know the hazardous materials surcharge raises the cost to ship lithium ion batteries pretty significantly. I believe the surcharge is between $19 and $39 depending on the size of the battery. USPS will ship lithium ion batteries but only the very small ones like the ones found in cell phones, watches, etc.

Thanks for the explanation James. Was just at fed ex shipping something for work and one of the first questions they asked so I just assumed it was a no no. Guess I never tried before but makes sense since you can order all types off Amazon.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Was just at fed ex shipping something for work and one of the first questions they asked so I just assumed it was a no no.

Yeah, it’s definitely one of the standard questions you get asked any time you’re shipping something these days. The carriers want to make sure poorly packaged or defective batteries don’t make it on aircraft as part of an overnight shipment. If one of the larger batteries started on fire at 30,000 feet it would be a bad deal.

TH wrote:

I think this is a problem battery for Milwaukee. I will talk with em on Monday. Just wanted other people to be aware of the 9 ah high demand battery.

Just to confirm you should deal directly with Milwaukee. I have had great customer service when contacting Milwaukee directly about warranty issues. Not so much with going to local dealers who tend to treat warranty issues like it’s you know what stuck to the bottom of their shoe.

You never forget your first time.

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Lithium is an extremely reactive metal. It reacts almost explosively when in contact with water. Your battery most likely had a crack letting moisture in. Even high humidity. I remember my college chem classes with Li and water. This is not an uncommon scenario. Can’t put it out until the exothermic reaction is complete.

Have heard not to charge them when wet. Father in laws former coworker had a house fire and I’m not certain but believe a drill battery was thought to be the cause.

I have been on a couple of electric care fires and they are a b*&^$ to put out. Lithium is not something to mess around with. Hopefully the battery companies keep their safety standards up so this continues to be a “rare” thing. Sorry it happened to you and really glad you and your house are ok.

They make lithium fireproof battery bags. I use them for RC batteries

I’m amazed at how “safe” they have made most batteries and that this doesn’t happen more. In the RC world we use batteries that charge and discharge very rapidly, which are prone to randomly burst into flames – I store mine at a specific voltage, inside a fireproof bag, inside an ammo can, sitting on top of bricks.

I have never thought to be worried about my Milwaukee batteries.

Glad you are okay and caught it in time. I’m betting on the battery/drill getting wet which caused it. I too have a few 9.0 HD batteries and have read of some fire stories, however my drill is on a clam plate. Hopefully Milwaukee helps you out.

Airlines carry “battery containment bags” on every flight in case those phones go up. This is also why they do not want you storing lithium battery powered items in your checked bags. If one goes off in the cargo hold there’s a good chance it’s all over for that plane.

Always carry your devices on with you!

Another option is Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (LiFePO4). They have a long life span, low toxicity, and do not burn or explode like the other lithium batteries. I use them for my auger and electronics. Amateur radio operators like to use them because they are lightweight and hold their charge for up to a year. They can also be used in radio controlled airplanes. When recharging the temperature needs to be above 32 degrees or you can damage the battery. The brand I use is Bioenno Power made in California.

luckydave wrote:

Another option is Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (LiFePO4). They have a long life span, low toxicity, and do not burn or explode like the other lithium batteries. I use them for my auger and electronics.

How are you using LFP batteries for your auger?

I have an older auger (Strikemaster Lectra Lazer). I use a 12 volt 9 AH battery from Bioenno.