From smartphones to scooters, lithium-ion batteries are everywhere.
They power our devices, tools, vehicles, and even the way we commute. But while these batteries are helping us transition to a low-carbon future, fire safety experts are sounding the alarm — quite literally.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) recently issued a powerful warning: the use of lithium-ion batteries in homes and businesses is growing faster than our safety standards can keep up.
As an electrical and fire safety company with more than 25 years of experience protecting people and property, we at ESI: understand just how critical this issue is.
What Makes Lithium-Ion Batteries So Dangerous?
Lithium-ion batteries have become the go-to energy source for:
- Mobile phones, laptops, and tablets
- E-bikes and e-scooters
- Power tools, vapes, and electric toothbrushes
- Electric vehicles (EVs)
But there’s a catch. When these batteries fail — often due to overcharging, physical damage, or poor-quality components — they can ignite rapidly, producing intense fires, toxic smoke, and even explosions.
What’s worse, they can reignite after being extinguished.
As NFCC Chair Phil Garrigan put it:
“These technologies must not come at the cost of public and firefighter safety. When things go wrong with lithium-ion batteries, the consequences can be devastating — and tragically, lives have already been lost.”
🚨 The Numbers Speak for Themselves
- Between 2021 and 2023, the UK recorded at least 263 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
- London Fire Brigade alone attended 179 fires caused by these devices in 2023.
- In 2024, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) logged 211 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries — nearly half of which occurred indoors.
- Since 2023, six deaths have been attributed to fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes.
And these figures may only scratch the surface. Much of the national data relies on voluntary reporting or unstructured logs, which means the true scale of the issue could be far higher.
👉 View OPSS product safety information
👉 See London Fire Brigade guidance on e-bikes & e-scooters
🧯 What Fire Services Are Asking For
The NFCC has now released a set of strong recommendations and is urging the government to take swift, decisive action to protect the public.
Their call to action includes:
- 📜 Mandatory product safety regulations for all lithium-ion battery-powered items
- 🌐 Stricter control of online marketplaces, ensuring imported or modified devices meet UK standards
- 🚮 Safe, accessible disposal schemes for damaged or end-of-life batteries
- 🏘️ Updated Building Regulations to reflect the fire risks of storing and charging batteries indoors
- 📢 National public awareness campaigns on safe charging and storage
- 🔬 Increased investment into battery fire research and firefighter training
🏠 What Can You Do to Stay Safe?
At ESI: Fire Safety, we work with commercial and residential property owners across the South East to stay ahead of emerging fire risks — and this includes lithium-ion batteries.
Here are our key recommendations to reduce your risk:
- Use manufacturer-approved chargers only — no cheap or off-brand copies.
- Charge devices on hard, flat surfaces away from flammable materials.
- Never leave charging batteries unattended or overnight.
- Avoid modifying batteries or chargers, even if you think you know what you’re doing.
- Inspect your batteries regularly for damage or bulging.
- Don’t block escape routes with charging equipment or e-scooters.
- Have your fire alarms and emergency lighting tested regularly — and ensure fire risk assessments are up to date.
If you run a business that stores, charges, or sells battery-powered items — from vape shops to bike retailers — you may be at higher risk and should get a professional fire risk assessment carried out immediately.
👉 Learn more about our fire risk assessments
👉 Check our blog for electrical safety guidance
🔧 Are You Fire-Safe?
At ESI: Fire Safety, we’ve spent over two decades helping UK businesses and organisations protect what matters. We are proud to be:
- Accredited Members of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM)
- Members of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- Experienced fire alarm designers, installers and inspectors
- Experts in commercial fire risk assessments and electrical safety
We stay ahead of the curve, combining compliance with practical solutions tailored to your property or business.
If you’re unsure how lithium-ion battery risks apply to your workplace, speak to us.Call us on 01276 300 351 or book your fire risk assessment online now
Final Word
Lithium-ion batteries are here to stay — and we’re not suggesting otherwise.
They’re essential to our tech-driven, eco-conscious future. But we must not let innovation race ahead of safety.
The NFCC is right to call for urgent action, and we support their recommendations.
But while we wait for government legislation to catch up, property owners and businesses can — and must — take proactive steps today.
Fire doesn’t wait.
