When most people think of household fire hazards, they picture candles, space heaters or faulty wiring.

But this year’s Fire Prevention Week message shines a spotlight on a newer — and increasingly common — risk: lithium-ion batteries.

These batteries, which were developed in the 1970s but didn’t hit the commercial market until the early ’90s, power everything from smartphones, laptops and power tools to e-bikes and electric vehicles.

“We have them everywhere in our lives, in our spaces, and we need to be extremely cautious and cognizant of the potential threat that exists,” said Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Assistant Chief Brian Kokkila.

“The biggest emerging component that we’re seeing is folks harnessing the power of the sun with solar, storing those in energy storage systems in their

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