PHOENIX — Twelve people have died in Phoenix-area house fires in 2025, compared to five by this time last year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

While the city of Scottsdale has not seen a fatal house fire in 2025, Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday that deadly incidents often follow a similar pattern.

“Usually, there’s a common thread of failure to early notify and failure to have an escape plan,” Shannon said.

He added that combustibles near an ignition source, unsafe living conditions, mobility challenges and a lack of working smoke detectors can all contribute to fatal outcomes.

How lithium-ion batteries make house fires more dangerous

Shannon said first responders are also facing new challenges due to evolving technology.

“These fires are just burning nasty,” he said. “Virtually every fire that we go on now is also a hazmat call because of the way things are constructed. They all put off chemicals when they burn.”

Shannon pointed to the growing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries as a key contributor to the hazardous situations. These batteries — found in everything from tablets and toys to electric vehicles — contain toxic acid that becomes dangerous when burned.

“The products themselves are safe unless they’re burning,” Shannon said. “The manufacturers don’t necessarily build safety around what’s it going to look like when it burns.”

That has left fire departments playing catchup.

“The science behind energy storage systems is way outpacing the fire services’ ability to maintain fire code,” Shannon said, noting that businesses like data centers are working with local fire departments to collaborate on best practices.

Four Peoria firefighters were injured in an explosion during a 2019 fire at a battery storage facility, an incident Shannon said brought widespread awareness to the potential dangers in the Valley.

Shannon emphasized the importance of following manufacturer instructions when using products powered by lithium-ion batteries, including how to safely store and charge them.

He noted that many people aren’t aware of a product’s exact specifications when replacing the batteries or chargers, and they wrongly assume that any cord that fits is safe to use.

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