Fire services say e-bike and scooter charging probably caused several fatal fires. Insurer says battery fires up by nearly 50%. Six people died in a fire, Novi Sad, Serbia, August 2024, possibly caused by an e-scooter charging. A mother and two children died in a fire in a flat, Cambridge, UK, July 2024, which fire services say was probably caused by a charging e-bike. Two people died in a house fire at Teralba, New South Wales, March 2024, caused by a lithium-ion battery. In Tulsa, Washington, a dog gnawing a mobile phone charger caused a fire. The insurance company QBE has collected data showing that UK fire services attended 46% more fires related to lithium-ion batteries in 2023 than the previous year, with almost three battery-related fires per day in the UK. Nearly 30% of these fires involved e-bike batteries. Safety recommendations from fire services and insurers include only using original or reputable brand batteries and chargers, avoiding charging in rooms with soft furnishings, ensuring functioning smoke alarms, not using damaged batteries and unplugging devices once charged.
“UK fire services face 46% increase in fires linked to lithium-ion batteries”, QBE Insurer 2024, https://qbeeurope.com/news-and-events/press-releases/uk-fire-services-face-46-increase-in-fires-linked-to-lithium-ion-batteries/
Serbia house fire https://apnews.com/article/fire-serbia-novi-sad-02f5b921d991fded9824fefaebde5d20
Cambridge UK flat fire https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66096597
New South Wales house fire https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/05/lake-macquarie-townhouse-fire-teralba-nsw-first-lithium-ion-battery-deaths
Washington Tulsa dog charger fire https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/08/07/dog-fire-lithium-ion-battery/