Data show that the British fire department received a total of 1,760 fire alarms involving lithium-ion batteries in 2025, which is equivalent to an average of about 4.8 fires per day and one related fire every five hours, a surge of 147% from the level of the previous three years. This trend is putting heavy pressure on local firefighting forces.
Among all lithium battery-related alarms, electric bicycles are the most prominent "problem source", accounting for about one-third of the total number of alarms last year, a total of 520. What is even more worrying is that "modified bikes" with batteries installed or modified privately on various bicycles are more frequently involved in accidents than complete bikes equipped with original batteries. For comparison, there were only 149 alarms related to electric bicycle fires in the UK in 2022. Now, the number has increased significantly in just a few years.
Electric vehicle fires have also risen significantly, with related attendances increasing by 133% in the past three years. This change is partly linked to a parallel increase in the number of electric cars on the road, which has roughly tripled in the UK over the same period.
Even more serious is the spatial distribution: nearly half of the lithium battery fires in the UK last year occurred in residents' homes. From smartphones, toys, e-cigarettes to electric toothbrushes, almost all modern electronic products use lithium-ion batteries. Once the battery is damaged, defective or misused, it may trigger the so-called "thermal runaway" phenomenon, that is, the temperature of the battery continues to rise out of control, eventually causing a fire.
Adrian Simmonds, risk manager at insurance company QBE, said that lithium battery fires burn differently from ordinary fires and are more difficult to extinguish, often requiring up to ten times the amount of water to control the fire. He emphasized that raising public awareness of safe charging, storage and disposal is key to ensuring the safety of people and property. According to statistics, in the past three years, five people have died in lithium battery fires in the UK.
Spencer Sutcliffe, deputy chief of prevention at the London Fire Department, believes that strengthening supervision will help improve the overall safety level of products, especially restricting the circulation of counterfeit or shoddy products or products with serious quality problems through online channels. He pointed out that some cheap batteries and charging equipment currently on the market lack necessary safety certifications and labels, which increases the risk of accidents.
Currently, the British National Fire Chiefs' Council is working with local fire departments, governments and relevant partners to promote public awareness, develop guidance and conduct relevant research to address new safety challenges posed by lithium batteries. However, relevant parties are also worried that supervision and guidance alone may not be able to keep up with the pace of technological development in a timely manner, especially in the context of the rapid popularization of various electronic devices and the almost ubiquity of lithium batteries.