Firefighters in the UK are being called out to lithium-ion battery fires about once every five hours now, which shows how much these rechargeable batteries have become a problem. According to data from insurer QBE published by The Guardian, fire services handled 1,760 battery-related fires in 2025 alone, nearly five incidents every day. That’s a 147 percent jump compared to the total from the previous three years combined.
Nearly a third of all lithium-ion battery fire incidents last year involved electric bikes, which were linked to 520 fires. Retrofitted e-bikes equipped with aftermarket battery kits were involved in significantly more incidents than factory-built models using original battery packs. For comparison, fire services recorded 149 e-bike battery fires in 2022.
The number of fires involving electric vehicles has increased by 133 percent over the past three years, mirroring the rapid rise in EV adoption across the UK. During that period, the number of electric cars on UK roads tripled.
Nearly half of all lithium-ion battery fires in the UK last year started inside homes. Because the batteries are used in a wide range of everyday products, including smartphones, toys, vapes, and electric toothbrushes, damaged or faulty cells can sometimes enter thermal runaway, causing temperatures to rise rapidly until the battery ignites.
Lithium-ion battery fires behave differently from conventional fires once they start. According to QBE risk manager Adrian Simmonds, they can require up to ten times more water to extinguish. Simmonds said that safe charging, storage, and disposal practices are important for protecting people and property. In the UK, five deaths linked to lithium-ion battery fires have been recorded over the past three years.
London Fire Brigade deputy commissioner for prevention Spencer Sutcliff believes stronger regulation could improve safety standards by restricting the sale of counterfeit or substandard batteries, often available through online marketplaces.
The National Fire Chiefs Council is already collaborating with local fire services, government agencies, and industry groups to strengthen public awareness campaigns and improve safety guidance and research. However, some experts remain uncertain that regulation alone can keep up with the rapid spread of battery technology into everyday products and services.
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