UK fire brigades are tackling a lithium-ion battery fire every five hours, according to new research.
Figures from global business insurer QBE reveal that the UK’s fire brigades were called to 1,760 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in 2025, equivalent to 4.8 fires a day.
This is a 147% rise in the amount of lithium-ion fires over the past three years. By comparison, in 2022, the amount of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries were 713, equivalent to two fires a day.
Lithium-ion batteries feature in many rechargeable devices, from smartphones and laptops to power tools, solar panels and electric vehicles, with a typical household containing between 15 to 25 of these devices.
They pose a fire risk due to what is known as thermal runaway, a chemical reaction that causes the temperature inside the battery to rise rapidly, triggering the release of flammable and toxic gases that can ignite or explode. This is often usually the result of impact damage, overcharging or overheating. Once ignited...