The growing reliance on lithium-ion batteries is becoming a serious public safety concern across the United Kingdom. According to newly released data, UK firefighters responded to 1,760 lithium battery-related fires in 2025, roughly one fire every five hours. The sharp increase has renewed global concerns about the dangers linked to lithium-powered devices, especially e-bikes, vapes, scooters, and poorly regulated battery packs.
The figures, gathered through Freedom of Information requests by insurer QBE and reported by The Guardian, show a 147% rise in lithium battery fires over the past three years. Fire officials say the problem is escalating faster than safety regulations and public awareness campaigns.
E-bikes emerged as one of the biggest contributors to the crisis. UK fire crews attended 520 e-bike fires in 2025 alone, compared to just 149 incidents in 2022. Experts believe modified or converted e-bikes using uncertified batteries and chargers are significantly increasing the risk of explosions and thermal runaway events.
One of the biggest dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries is “thermal runaway”, a chain reaction where overheating cells release toxic gases, flames, and explosive heat. Unlike conventional fires, lithium battery fires burn hotter, spread faster, and are far more difficult to extinguish. Fire experts say these incidents can require up to 10 times as much water to control as ordinary fires.
Authorities are also warning about the hidden risks inside homes. Nearly half of all lithium battery fires in the UK reportedly occurred in residential properties, raising concerns about overnight charging practices and the sale of cheap, imported battery products on online marketplaces. London alone recorded hundreds of e-bike and e-scooter battery fires in recent years, with several fatalities linked to such incidents.
The issue is no longer limited to homes and streets. Recycling centers across Britain are also struggling with lithium battery waste. Improperly discarded vape batteries and damaged cells are now triggering fires inside waste facilities and garbage trucks, creating billion-pound losses for the recycling industry.
A Warning Ignored
As lithium batteries continue to power everything from mobility devices to consumer electronics, experts are calling for stricter regulations, safer battery standards, and greater public awareness. Fire authorities warn that without urgent action, lithium battery fires could become one of the most dangerous urban fire hazards of the decade.
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