Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has today (24 Nov) added its voice to a powerful awareness campaign, ‘Fast. Fierce. Fatal.’, highlighting the dangers of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. It follows a sharp increase in incidents linked to the batteries found in devices such as
e-bikes, e-scooters, phones, laptops and vapes across the UK.
Black Friday and Christmas:
Why Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Is Crucial
As Black Friday and Christmas approach, we’re joining forces with fire and rescue services nationwide to drive home some simple messages. We’re asking people to take lots of care when buying gifts – and to make sure devices with lithium-ion batteries are charged safely. We’ll also be working with partner organisations to help get the message to a range of different audiences, including e-bike and e-scooter users.
John Elsworth, Station Commander at HWFRS, said “Always purchase your e-bike or e-scooter from a reputable retailer, especially during Black Friday sales when deals can be tempting. Remember, cheapest is not always best. Never charge them overnight, and please always fit and test your smoke alarms. For more details please see the e-bikes and e-scooters page on our website.”
Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries can be:
FAST
These fires can start suddenly, often without warning, and spread within seconds.
FIERCE
These fires burn at extreme temperatures. They release toxic fumes and explosive vapours, and can quickly fill a home with flames.
FATAL
These fires can be fatal.
The campaign created by West Midlands Fire Service, feature everyday devices on charge, with their batteries glowing to stress the importance of buying and charging safely. The campaign highlights popular rechargeable items such as e-bikes, e-scooters, vapes, drones, mobile phones, and remote-controlled cars — all of which likely contain lithium-ion batteries.
The likelihood of a high-quality lithium-ion battery failing is low, but even well-maintained batteries can fail without warning. Many people don’t realise they use these batteries every day and may unknowingly put themselves at risk through unsafe purchasing, charging, or storage practices.
Key messages of the Fast. Fierce. Fatal. campaign
- always buy devices and chargers from trusted retailers
- use the correct charger and never leave batteries on charge overnight
- charge on a hard, flat surface, away from anything that could burn
- keep escape routes clear – never charge in hallways or on stairs
- never bin batteries; take them to proper recycling points.
How to spot a dangerous battery
- feels unusually hot when charging or in use
- swelling, bulging, or leaking liquid
- burning or acrid smell
- hissing sound
- device won’t hold a charge properly.
- damage to the casing, such as a dent, that could have affected the battery on the inside.