Aggressive lithium-ion fires are increasing, leaving fire fighters struggling to tackle fatal blazes.
These fires can reach over 1000 degrees and can be fully formed in two or three minutes.
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said: “There has been an increase in the amount of fires we have attended in South Yorkshire.
“In 2023 there were 17 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters, more than double the amount of all lithium-ion battery fires in 2022.”
E-bikes and e-scooters are powered using lithium-ion batteries. Issues arise when the battery is damaged and a process called “thermal runaway” takes place, a chain reaction which sees the battery drastically overheat.
This causes a release of toxic gases which then ignite and sometimes explode which can cause severe damage and injury.
The increase in fires has been seen across other parts of the country.
This year, London Fire Brigade has attended 31 e-bike fires and nine e-scooter fires so far, and in 2023, 11 people died as a result.
Latest data from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service shows that in 2023, it attended 26 lithium-ion battery fires, up from 16 in 2022.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Services said they have attended four incidents linked to e-bikes and e-scooters since 2020, two of which occurred this year.
An increase has also been seen by Devon and Somerset and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Services who have noticed a surge in reports.
Fire services across the country have warned of the dangers of e-bike fires after an increasing number of reports.
Advice from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service includes:
- Do not leave your device charging unattended or when you’re asleep
- Do not charge or store your battery in the hallway or where it could block your escape
- Only use the correct charger for your battery
- It is recommended that only a professional carries out an e-bike conversion
- Only buy e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries from trusted retailers and manufacturers, cheap and second-hand batteries bought online are much more dangerous
