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UK lithium-ion fire incidents, data and regulation, with a note on what each story means for your business. Every story links to its original source.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that a lithium-ion battery went into thermal runaway while charging, causing the house fire in Bootle on 22 September. A mother and her three children died. The service has recorded 150 lithium-ion battery fires in Merseyside since April 2023, linked to five deaths.
Material Focus estimates more than 6.3 million vapes are still thrown away every week, despite the single-use vape ban. Vapes are linked to about 23% of tracked battery fires, and fires in the waste stream have risen 71% to more than 1,200 a year.
SUEZ's Health and Safety Director reports about two real fires a day across its UK operations. The Environmental Services Association now estimates battery fires cost the waste sector over £1 billion a year, up from £158 million in 2021.
Freedom of Information data gathered by insurer QBE shows 1,760 battery-linked fires in 2025, or 4.8 a day. That is a 147% rise in three years. 23% of the fires were in commercial premises. London Fire Brigade recorded the most (522), ahead of West Yorkshire (126) and Lancashire (117).
London Fire Brigade attended 206 e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2025, its highest total yet. That is about one every other day. 171 involved e-bikes. Two people died, bringing the total to five since 2023, and the Brigade is calling for regulation.