We are talking about lithium-ion battery energy storage system safety this weekend on In Focus. David Morales, with the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, joined JoDee Kenney to talk about the concerns volunteer firefighters have as they are responding to emergencies involving this new technology. Morales said thermal runaway is one cause of lithium-ion battery fires and is most prevalent in damaged or improperly modified batteries and systems. The only way to extinguish these fires, he said, is to deplete the batteries of all their stored energy. Morales said FASNY helps connect fire departments with training and other educational resources on fighting these fires. He also noted that consumer electronics have been using lithium-ion batteries for decades and can generally be considered safe when used properly.

You can watch the full interview with David Morales via the above video player. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.