Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: September 7 - 13
- Tim Spears
- Sep 28
- 4 min read
Lithium-ion batteries power more of our lives every day, from the tools we use at work to the devices in our homes and the vehicles we drive. But with that convenience comes a growing fire risk when batteries fail, are damaged, or are disposed of improperly.
This week’s photo carousel looks at real incidents from September 7–13 where lithium-ion batteries were linked to significant fires. The goal is to share lessons that can help both professionals and the public stay ahead of these risks.
Here are a few examples:
✅ Banksia Grove, Australia – A garage battery fire destroyed a family home.
✅ Smethwick, UK – A house fire injured a man and a child, traced to a lithium-ion battery.
✅ Cortland, NY – A vacuum battery ignited, but quick action by the homeowner prevented major damage.
✅ Logan, UT – An improperly discarded e-scooter battery started a landfill fire.
✅ Albany, Australia – A warehouse blaze caused by a tool battery triggered explosions and a hazmat warning.
Fires are not limited to charging, some may start when batteries are idle or damaged.
Residential smoke alarms and early detection continue to make a critical difference.
Safe storage and proper disposal remain weak points where more awareness is needed.
👉 Swipe through the slides to see the full set of incidents and safety takeaways.
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 incidents helps us understand how lithium-ion battery fires are actually starting, spreading, and being managed. By reviewing incidents we can improve prevention strategies, community awareness, and emergency response.
Fires Can Start Outside Charging
Several incidents involved batteries that were not actively charging, such as the garage fire in Banksia Grove and the warehouse fire in Albany, Australia. These cases highlight that aging or damaged batteries can ignite even when idle.
Takeaway: Store batteries in safe, non-combustible locations and replace damaged or aging packs rather than leaving them in use or storage.
Homes Are a Frequent Setting
From house fires in Smethwick, Milton, Poole, Celoron, and Hartford, residential properties continue to be a common setting for lithium-ion incidents. These fires often escalate quickly and can result in injuries, as seen in Smethwick and Hartford.
Takeaway: Fire services and safety professionals should continue prioritizing public education on safe battery use in homes, with an emphasis on alarms and evacuation readiness.
Improper Disposal Creates Risks
The Logan, Utah landfill fire and the Boroughbridge industrial unit fire show how discarded batteries can spark fires in waste streams and workplaces. Both incidents underline the dangers of treating lithium-ion batteries like regular trash.
Takeaway: Expand community messaging and infrastructure for proper recycling and hazardous waste drop-off for all lithium-ion devices.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Working smoke alarms in the Poole property fire and quick action by the Cortland homeowner limited damage and prevented injuries. These incidents illustrate how simple measures, like functional alarms or quick removal of burning items can change outcomes dramatically.
Takeaway: Reinforce the importance of residential smoke alarms and basic battery fire awareness in community outreach programs.
Commercial and Industrial Sites Are Vulnerable
The e-bike shop fire in Chippendale and the warehouse fire in Albany demonstrate the added complexity when fires occur in businesses storing large numbers of batteries. These fires required major resources, evacuations, and specialized handling to prevent re-ignition.
Takeaway: Businesses that sell or store lithium-ion products should develop site-specific fire safety plans, including suppression strategies and safe storage practices.
References
Abbott, A. (2025, September 11). Cortland Fire credits quick action by homeowner of removing burning lithium-ion battery from residence. X101 Always Classic (WXHC). https://www.wxhc.com/cortland-fire-credits-quick-action-by-homeowner-of-removing-burning-lithium-ion-battery-from-residence/
Ashmore, K. (2025, September 8). Cause of Smethwick house fire revealed as man and child injured in blaze. Birmingham Live. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/cause-smethwick-house-fire-revealed-32436256
Barrett, M. (2025, September 9). Investigators: Lithium-ion battery likely caused Milton fire. WMUR. https://www.wmur.com/article/lithium-ion-battery-milton-nh-house-fire-09082025/66018493
Brugger, M. (2025, September 10). E-scooter with lithium-ion battery starts fire at Logan landfill. KUTV. https://kutv.com/news/local/e-scooter-with-lithium-ion-battery-starts-fire-at-logan-landfill
Collins, A., Goerling, S., & Chounding, A. (2025, September 8). Wignalls Wines owner ‘broken’ after lithium-ion battery fire burns warehouse. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/battery-fire-destroys-wignalls-wines-warehouse-albany/105747356
Fire and Rescue NSW. (2025, September 10). Firefighters contain fire in e-bike shop – Chippendale. Fire and Rescue NSW. https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/incident.php?record=recDg6nLbPxo0kBIb
London Fire Brigade. (2025, September 9). Industrial unit fire – South Woodford. London Fire Brigade. https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2025/september/industrial-unit-fire-south-woodford/
McLaughlin, R. (2025, September 10). Poole property fire: battery revealed as cause. Bournemouth Echo. https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25456770.poole-property-fire-battery-revealed-cause/
North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. (2025, September 11). Incident summary – Wednesday 10th September – Night shift. North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. https://www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/incident/2025-09-11-incident-summary-wednesday-10th-september-night-shift/
Post-Journal. (2025, September 13). Area police reports: Celoron garage fire caused by lithium-ion battery. Post-Journal. https://www.post-journal.com/news/police-reports/2025/09/area-police-reports-1639/
Rosen, A. (2025, September 12). House fire in Wisconsin reportedly due to children trying to ‘destructively’ disassemble lithium-ion powered device. WFRV. https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/house-fire-in-wisconsin-reportedly-due-to-children-trying-to-destructively-disassemble-lithium-ion-powered-device/
Rosen, A. (2025, September 12). House fire in Wisconsin reportedly due to children trying to ‘destructively’ disassemble lithium-ion powered device. Yahoo News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/house-fire-wisconsin-reportedly-due-194206388.html
Shepardson, D. (2025, September 12). Southwest requiring removal of batteries from mobility devices before boarding. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/southwest-requiring-removal-batteries-mobility-devices-before-boarding-2025-09-12/
Vinci, C. (2025, September 11). Banksia Grove house fire: Fire officials reveal cause of blaze that destroyed Horticulture Gardens home. PerthNow. https://www.perthnow.com.au/wa/perth/banksia-grove-house-fire-blaze-destroys-single-storey-home-on-horticulture-gardens-c-19993770
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