Lithium batteries can be found in cars, bikes, scooters, laptops, phones, and e-cigarettes, amongst many other items. Fire and rescue services are most concerned about the significant fire risk involved with electric vehicles including e-bikes and e-scooter batteries, after several UK deaths have been linked to fires caused by these.
The danger occurs when e-bikes and e-scooters are left on charge and unattended in homes or in communal areas such as hallways and stairwells. They can block emergency escape routes in multi-occupant buildings, making it harder to escape in the event of a fire. Charging lithium batteries indoors increases the fire risk, especially if charged overnight when occupants are sleeping.
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin said:
“E-bikes and e-scooters with lithium batteries can catch fire quickly and with little warning if not handled and cared for correctly or if they are of poor quality. If lithium batteries overheat when charging, there’s also a risk of these exploding. After the recent Cambridge tragedy which sadly cost the lives of a mother and her two children, we want to highlight the dangers and increased fire risk these products can present, to hopefully avoid such tragedies in the future.
“We know e-bikes and e-scooters are becoming increasingly popular but in the last year HIWFRS has already attended 5 fires caused by lithium battery packs and 21 incidents since 2020. The large amount of energy found in these battery packs poses a huge fire risk, so we urge members of the public to ensure they take the necessary precautions.
“To help keep everyone in your family safe, don’t leave lithium batteries to charge unattended, don’t put them in the way of exits or in hallways and unplug chargers when the batteries are at full capacity.”
Nationally there’s been a notable increase in incidents of this kind, with London Fire Brigade reporting that they’ve already attended 70 e-bike, 14 e-scooter and 35 other lithium battery fires in London so far in 2023.
It is not just fires in the home that are a concern as there has also been increased reports of fires in the waste and recycling system caused by batteries and electricals containing batteries. In response to this, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), has teamed up with Material Focus to produce a new safety video “Stop Battery Fires” that emphasises the dangers of throwing away batteries, and the importance of never binning and always recycling batteries and electricals containing batteries.
Greater production and storage of lithium batteries also has potential safety implications for the community and fire and rescue services, due to the likelihood of these units exploding when they become involved in a fire. Last year HIWFRS Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin issued a letter to council chiefs warning about the dangers of lithium batteries and the increasing number of battery storage facilities across the country. The current UK planning system does not classify lithium installations as hazardous, meaning UK fire and rescue services are not statutory consultees and these facilities do not require environmental permits.
Top tips:
- Always use the charger that came with your product as poor quality chargers can damage batteries and increase the risk of fire.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to charge batteries and unplug when the charge is complete.
- Never leave a charger plugged in overnight or unattended.
- Only choose branded, genuine products from a reputable retailer.
- Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
- Don’t overload your sockets.
- Ensure you regularly check batteries for signs of damage.
- If a battery is not holding charge, gets hot, bulges or you hear hissing noises when charging, unplug immediately.
- Always charge e-bikes/e-scooters clear of exits and your escape routes so you can easily escape in the event of a fire.
- Never cover chargers or battery packs as this could lead to overheating or a fire.
- Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the areas where you store or charge your e-bike/e-scooter.
- If there are any evident signs of fire such as the battery smoking or flames, raise the alarm immediately, get out, stay out and call 999.
Incidents of note:
- 5 July 2023, 08:03: Hightown and St Mary’s crews were called to Weston Lane in Southampton after reports of an alight electric vehicle. There were 12 lithium-ion batteries involved in the blaze, so a Hazmat officer attended the scene, and a cordon was put in place, with five residents evacuated from their homes as a precaution. Crews extinguished the fire before cooling the batteries and monitoring the temperature.
- 25 June 2023, 10:16: Crews from Southsea were called to a flat fire in Sandringham Road, Portsmouth after an electric scooter’s lithium battery caught fire, leading to a fire in the bathroom. Crews used two sets of breathing apparatus and two jets as well as two positive pressure ventilation fans, which were used to clear the smoke. Crews carried out a Safe and Well visit to support the resident and explain the dangers of lithium batteries. The stop message came in at 11:27am.
- 31 May 2023, 9:06: Redbridge and St Mary’s crews were alerted to a van fire on the drive of a property on Berwick Close in Southampton after numerous calls were made into the HIWFRS Control Room. The van was destroyed in the blaze, with firefighters working to prevent the fire spreading to the house, which only suffered smoke and heat damage.Firefighters in breathing apparatus stopped the fire using hose reels and jets before clearing smoke with ventilation fans. The lithium battery, which is believed to have sparked the fire, was removed from the vehicle and submerged in water before HIWFRS left the scene at around 10pm.
- 06 April 2022, 17:26: Firefighters tackled a fire involving an electric scooter’s battery pack which had exploded whilst on charge in a Portsmouth flat. Crews from Cosham and Southsea arrived to find smoke issuing from the building on Hewlett Road before firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reels and jets to stop the blaze which had caused significant damage to the living room. Fire Investigation Officers have confirmed the fire started after an electric scooter’s lithium battery overheated whilst charging, causing it to explode. Crews delivered safety messaging and advice to neighbouring residents before leaving the scene.
Further guidance can be found on the National Fire Chiefs Council website, or you can access the NFCC complete guide to e-bikes and e-scooters fire safety.