Fears fires caused by lithium-ion batteries will ‘increase considerably’ as popularity of electric scooters rises

Firefighters are concerned the number of residential blazes being triggered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will “increase considerably” over coming years, as devices like electric scooters become more popular.Key points:Two fatal fires in Brisbane and Logan are believed to have been caused by a charging batteryLithium-ion batteries can be found in almost every battery-powered domestic item”Typically” fires are caused by human error, QFES safety head saysThere were 46 fires ignited by the common type of batteries in Queensland during the last financial year.This is the first time statistics specifically listing them as the cause of a blaze have been kept, after Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) crews noticed it becoming more common.Superintendent Mark Halverson, executive manager of QFES’s safety section, said the number is “increasing rapidly”.”With the…

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