Over Half of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Occur During Charging

Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters Analysis Shows
Fires Peak During May to August Over the Past Five Years

On July 15, a fire broke out in the battery of an electric motorcycle that was being charged in the parking space of a house in Muju County, Jeonbuk. An investigation revealed that the fire started in the lithium-ion battery pack inside the battery compartment, and fire authorities presumed the cause to be a 'thermal runaway,' in which the internal temperature of the battery rapidly rises due to an electrical anomaly occurring during the charging process.

The fire scene is presumed to have resulted from a 'thermal runaway,' a rapid increase in the internal temperature of the battery caused by an electrical abnormality during the charging process. Provided by Jeonbuk Provincial Fire Department

More than half of lithium-ion battery fires in the Jeonbuk region have occurred during the charging process, underscoring the need for extra caution when using batteries during the summer months.

According to the Jeonbuk Provincial Fire Service Headquarters on August 23, a total of 128 lithium-ion battery-related fires occurred in the province over the past five years, resulting in 7 injuries and property damage of approximately 3.25 billion won.

By year, the number of fire incidents was as follows: 17 cases in 2021, 24 in 2022, 26 in 2023, 38 in 2024, and 23 in 2025. Notably, these fires tended to concentrate during the warmer period from May to August.

Reviewing the battery status at the time of fire, fires that occurred during charging accounted for 70 cases, representing 54.7% of the total. Fires during storage amounted to 34 cases, while there were 6 cases each for fires occurring during operation or while parked.

In terms of causes, electrical factors were the most common, with 46 cases. This was followed by 37 cases due to mechanical factors, 16 due to carelessness, and 12 due to chemical reasons.

By usage, mobility devices such as electric kickboards and electric bicycles accounted for the most with 31 cases. There were 27 cases involving supplemental batteries, 18 with electric tools, and 13 each for household and agricultural batteries. When broken down by location, apartment complexes saw the highest number of fires at 25, followed by vehicles such as cars at 22, outdoor locations at 20, and single-family homes at 16.

Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if their internal temperature rises quickly due to impacts, overcharging, or product damage. Once ignited, the fire can spread rapidly, making it crucial to manage batteries from the charging and storage stages.

To prevent battery fires, the Jeonbuk Provincial Fire Service Headquarters advised: not charging batteries in evacuation routes like entrances or exits; disconnecting chargers once charging is complete; keeping flammable objects such as paper or clothing away from batteries; using the original charger designed for the product; not leaving the area or falling asleep while charging; and not using batteries that have been subjected to impact or have swollen.

A representative from the Jeonbuk Provincial Fire Service Headquarters stated, "Since lithium-ion batteries are used in many everyday products, it is difficult to completely avoid fire risks," and added, "It is important to choose a safe location when charging and make it a habit to check the condition of the battery."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.