Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: August 10 - 16
- Tim Spears
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Lithium-ion batteries power many of the devices, tools, and vehicles we rely on every day. But with their benefits comes a growing fire risk that fire and building safety professionals are seeing more often across different settings.
To raise awareness, I’ve put together a photo carousel highlighting recent incidents from around the world. Each slide provides a snapshot of what happened and the safety messages we can take away.
Here are just a few of the cases featured:
✅ Greenacres, Florida (USA): An e-bike battery caught fire while charging, forcing a family to escape their second-story apartment through a window.
✅ Ankara, Turkey: A Turkish Airlines flight diverted after a passenger’s wireless headphones caught fire mid-air.
🔗 https://baku.ws/en/world/airplane-makes-emergency-landing-in-turkey-due-to-headphones-catching-fire
✅ Seoul, South Korea: A battery explosion at a university engineering building triggered an evacuation of 40 people.
✅ Los Angeles, California (USA): Firefighters battled a large-scale blaze at a battery storage facility with hazmat support on scene.
✅ Bukit Merah, Singapore: A flat fire linked to a personal mobility device battery killed two residents and displaced dozens more.
Across these incidents, common themes emerge: improper charging practices, challenges in disposal, and the need for specialized fire response when large storage systems are involved.
➡️ Swipe through the slide show to see the full set of cases and the lessons learned.
The incidents highlighted in this report span multiple regions, showing that lithium-ion battery fires are not limited to any one country or setting. The map below provides a geographic view of recent cases, from residential flats and garbage trucks to aircraft and large storage facilities. By visualizing these events together, we can better appreciate the widespread nature of the hazard and the shared responsibility to promote safe charging, storage, and disposal practices.
I’ve created the spreadsheet with all reviewed incidents, including the title, link, publication date, and description.
You can download it here:
🔍 Lessons Learned from This Week’s Lithium-Ion Battery Fires
Reviewing real-world lithium-ion battery fire incidents helps us identify recurring risks and share practical solutions. This week’s cases, from homes and apartments to airplanes and industrial facilities, offer important reminders for both safety professionals and the public.
Improper Charging Practices
Several residential incidents, including an e-bike fire in Florida and a fatal flat fire in Singapore, were linked to charging with non-approved devices or leaving batteries unattended. These practices increase the likelihood of overcharging and battery failure.
Takeaway: Always use manufacturer-approved chargers and avoid charging batteries overnight or unattended.
Disposal and Waste Hazards
Garbage truck fires in Massachusetts and New Jersey, as well as Goodyear’s new fire detection program, highlight the dangers of discarding lithium-ion batteries with regular trash. When compacted, damaged, or exposed to heat, these batteries can ignite rapidly.
Takeaway: Promote safe disposal through designated recycling or hazardous waste centers, and educate communities on why batteries should never go into household bins.
Residential Vulnerability
Apartment and flat fires in London, Florida, and Singapore displaced families and, in some cases, caused fatalities. These incidents underscore how quickly small devices like vacuum cleaners, e-bikes, and PMD batteries can ignite in living spaces.
Takeaway: Encourage residents to store and charge devices outside living areas when possible, and ensure working smoke alarms are present indoors.
Transportation and In-Flight Risks
Turkish Airlines experienced in-flight fires caused by consumer devices. Quick crew response prevented escalation, but the incident illustrates how even small batteries can threaten passenger safety at altitude.
Takeaway: Remind travelers to report overheating devices immediately.
Industrial and Storage Facility Challenges
Fires in Los Angeles battery storage sites and a London vehicle repair workshop required large-scale firefighting resources and hazmat monitoring. These facilities present unique hazards due to the volume of stored batteries and potential toxic runoff.
Takeaway: Fire safety planning for battery storage and repair facilities should include defensive tactics, hazmat support, and coordination with utility providers.
By studying these incidents together, we can better understand patterns and strengthen both prevention and response strategies across residential, commercial, and transportation settings.
References
Cechini, H. (2025, August 11). Lithium-ion battery sparked home fire in Pittsville last month, say investigators. 47ABC. https://www.wmdt.com/2025/08/lithium-ion-battery-sparked-home-fire-in-pittsville-last-month-say-investigators/
Joseph, V. (2025, August 12). ‘The house filled up with smoke’: Family displaced after e-bike battery fire. WPTV. https://www.wptv.com/news/palm-beach-county/region-c-palm-beach-county/messed-up-his-first-day-of-school-greenacres-family-displaced-after-e-bike-battery-fire
Lim, J. (2025, August 12). Blaze extinguished at Seoul National University after battery explosion. Korea JoongAng Daily. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-08-12/national/socialAffairs/Battery-explosion-starts-fire-at-Seoul-National-University/2373874
London Fire Brigade. (2025, August 11). Vehicle repair workshop fire – Finchley. London Fire Brigade. https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2025/august/vehicle-repair-workshop-fire-finchley/
London Fire Brigade. (2025, August 13). Flat fire – Poplar. London Fire Brigade. https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2025/august/flat-fire-poplar/
Los Angeles Fire Department. (2025, August 10). GREATER ALARM structure fire 08/10/2025 INC#0297. Los Angeles Fire Department. https://lafd.org/alert/greater-alarm-structure-fire-08102025-inc0297
Malay Mail. (2025, August 14). Battery pack likely cause of Bukit Merah flat fire that killed two, says Singapore Civil Defence Force. Yahoo! News. https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/battery-pack-likely-cause-bukit-072959965.html
Mamedova, N. (2025, August 10). Airplane makes emergency landing in Turkey due to headphones catching fire. Baku.ws. https://baku.ws/en/world/airplane-makes-emergency-landing-in-turkey-due-to-headphones-catching-fire
O’Connor, S., & Trowbridge, R. (2025, August 11). Fire officials issue warning after Sturbridge garbage truck fire. Western Mass News. https://www.westernmassnews.com/2025/08/11/fire-officials-issue-warning-after-sturbridge-garbage-truck-fire/
Turner, A. (2025, August 10). Crews battle fire at battery storage facility in South Los Angeles. CBS Los Angeles. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/battery-storage-facility-fire-south-los-angeles/
Jersey Shore Online. (2025, August 14). Firefighters extinguish battery-fueled truck fire. Jersey Shore Online. https://www.jerseyshoreonline.com/ocean-county/firefighters-extinguish-battery-fueled-truck-fire/
City of Goodyear. (2025, August 11). Goodyear launches first-of-its-kind trash truck fire detection system. City of Goodyear. https://www.goodyearaz.gov/our-city/city-news