Lithium Battery Fires Surge Across UK, Outpacing Safety Regulations
Fire service chiefs and scientific experts are raising urgent alarms over the growing hazard posed by lithium-ion batteries, warning that their ubiquity in everyday products is rapidly outstripping public understanding and existing safety frameworks. This technological risk has been starkly highlighted by a recent blaze that devastated a historic building near Glasgow Central station, believed to have originated in a shop selling vapes powered by these batteries.
Escalating Incidents and Expert Concerns
Data reveals a sharp increase in battery-related fires, with firefighters in London attending an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day. Professor Paul Christensen of the University of Newcastle emphasised that while the probability of such fires is low, the hazard is "very, very high," as evidenced by the Glasgow incident. Professor Guillermo Rein from Imperial College London described it as a new technology with an unintended hazard that "keeps me awake at night," noting that lithium battery fires breach traditional protection layers due to their unique development and suppression challenges.
Lithium-ion batteries are omnipresent in devices like mobile phones, laptops, tools, and vapes, as well as in e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric vehicles. When damaged or misused, they can undergo thermal runaway—a dangerous chain reaction producing toxic gases and explosive flames.
Statistical Evidence and Broader Impacts
In London, firefighters attended 206 e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2025, up from 12 in 2019, with related fires totalling 521 compared to 80. These incidents have resulted in five fatalities over three years and have had a "devastating effect" on communities. In Scotland, lithium battery-related fires rose to 69 in 2025 from 20 in 2019, including incidents in homes, hospitals, and prisons, though no fatalities have been recorded there.
Incorrect disposal of batteries, which should be recycled at designated points like supermarket bins, has led to serious fires in bin lorries and recycling plants, costing over £1 billion annually and causing injuries to staff.
Calls for Regulation and Public Education
The National Fire Chiefs Council has voiced concerns that battery use is advancing faster than safety standards. Richard Field, its electrical safety lead, warned of "catastrophic" failures and called for stronger product safety rules, tighter oversight of online sales, and effective enforcement. The UK Vaping Industry Association advocates for a robust licensing scheme under the proposed tobacco and vapes bill to ensure shops comply with age verification, product legality, recycling, and electrical safety.
Professor Christensen stressed that public education is crucial, as batteries have permeated society faster than risk awareness, with a perceived reluctance at government levels to address these hazards. Professor Rein noted a similar reluctance in the battery industry, suggesting regulation may be necessary due to a "shocking lack of leadership" in managing these risks introduced into homes.
