Battery fires in e-bikes, phones quadruple in 5 years

In the past five years, battery fires in devices such as electric bicycles, scooters, and cell phones have quadrupled. According to the Danish Emergency Management Agency, 131 incidents related to lithium-ion batteries were registered last year, up from 30 in 2018. Rasmus Storgaard Petersen, director of Beredskab Øst, notes the rise correlates with the increased number of battery-powered products. While not considering everyday household batteries as inherently dangerous, he acknowledges they pose a fire risk, especially when defective or charged with incompatible chargers. To mitigate risks, he advises against charging batteries in bedrooms or escape routes and suggests using a separate room with a smoke alarm. In case a charging battery heats up unusually or emits a strange smell, it should be discarded. Beredskabsstyrelsen, aware of the trend, is collaborating with the Safety Agency to develop better prevention measures, with findings expected by the second half of 2024.