MERIDIAN, Idaho — Meridian Fire is warning residents to be careful about how they store items after a 9-volt battery sparked a small fire at a home in Meridian.
The fire department shared a photo of the scorched pantry where the battery had been stored.
"9-Volt batteries can be dangerous as the positive and negative posts are very close together," Meridian Fire wrote. "If a metal object touches the two posts of a 9-volt battery, it can cause a short circuit which can make enough heat to start a fire."
People can protect against an accidental fire by storing the batteries in their original container. In addition, the posts of used batteries should be covered with a cap or tape prior to throwing them in the trash. Even weak or nearly-dead batteries may have enough charge to start a fire, officials said.
For more fire safety tips, visit the Meridian Fire website here.
