Cambridgeshire fire service send out battery warning on Black Friday
It comes amid a rise in incident relating to lithium-ion batteries
As the Black Friday sales hit today, people in Cambridgeshire are being warned of the dangers lithium ion batteries can bring.
It comes following an increase in fires linked to these batteries, such as in e-bikes, e-scooters and vapes, across the UK.
"It's (Black Friday discounts) not dangerous itself, it's where they were sourced from; people will be importing and selling them cheaply," Gareth Boyd, station commander at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said.
"If you're buying from a reputable dealer, you'll be perfectly safe."
Campaign launched
A 'Fast. Fierce. Fatal.' campaign has been set up by West Midlands Fire Service after it saw a rise in the number of incidents related to lithium-ion batteries.
This included a young couple and their two dogs who died in Coventry in a house fire started by the battery in a bike converted to an e-bike.
Between January 2023 and September 2024, there were 33 battery-related fires in Cambridgeshire.
From January to April this year, the county's fire service reported six fires had been caused by charging batteries, including a battery from a DIY home conversion e-bike kit that exploded which led to one person being treated for burns.
Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries can be:
- FAST: they can start suddenly, often without warning, and spread within seconds;
- FIERCE: such fires burn at extreme temperatures. They release toxic fumes and explosive vapours, and can quickly fill a home with flames;
- FATAL: People have died in such fires, typically with little chance to escape.
How to charge safely
- Use the charger that came with your device; if it didn’t come with one, make sure you use one that’s compatible (power, output);
- Charge on a hard, flat surface, away from anything that could catch fire and burn;
- Unplug once fully charged, don’t leave on charge overnight or while you’re away from home;
- Don’t block escape routes - never charge batteries in hallways, doorways or under stairs;
- Let batteries cool before charging;
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions.
"If the charger is really light, it's going to be cheaply made and there might not be a fuse in it, which could cause a problem," Mr Boyd said.
"We want you to buy your batteries and chargers from reputable dealers, charge them when you're alert and awake, and make sure you don't charge them in any of your exit routes so if anything did happen, you're able to get out safely.
"I think people are becoming a lot more aware of it (risks around lithium-ion batteries), but we're still in that time of austerity where people want to save money, so if it looks too good to be true, be a bit wary."