FOI release

FOI Request: e-bike/e-scooter fires

Case reference FOI2026/00037

Received 9 January 2026

Published 17 February 2026

Request

I would like to rescind my previous Freedom of Information request, dated 18/12/25, also about ebike/escooter fires, and replace with the following: I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am basing my request on the fire statistics definitions laid out on this page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-statistics-guidance/fire-statistics-definitions#fires From your incident recording system, please provide information relating to fire incidents attended by your service between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2025 where the source of ignition was recorded as an e-bike or e-scooter (including associated batteries). If data is not available to 31 December 2025, please provide data up to the most recently available date and include what date that is. Specifically, please provide a monthly breakdown, by calendar year, of the following: 1. The total number of incidents attended. 2. The total number of casualties resulting from these incidents. 3. The total number of fatalities resulting from these incidents. 4. The highest number of casualties recorded in any single incident within this dataset, and which month/year this occurred in. 5. The number of these incidents that occurred in dwellings. 6. Where recorded, the size of fire for these incidents (e.g. item, room, one floor, two or more floors, whole building). Please provide the data in a tabular, machine-readable format such as a CSV or Excel file. If any of the requested information is not held, or cannot be provided within the appropriate cost limit, please provide the information that is available and advise accordingly. If any part of this request would trigger an exemption, I would seek advice and assistance under section 16 of the freedom of information act to refine or clarify.

Response

Please see our response to your questions set out below.

From your incident recording system, please provide information relating to fire incidents attended by your service between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2025 where the source of ignition was recorded as an e-bike or e-scooter (including associated batteries).

If data is not available to 31 December 2025, please provide data up to the most recently available date and include what date that is.

Specifically, please provide a monthly breakdown, by calendar year, of the following:

1. The total number of incidents attended.
2. The total number of casualties resulting from these incidents.
3. The total number of fatalities resulting from these incidents.

In response to the above, please see the attached spreadsheet. Tab 1 (“E-Bikes and E-Scooter numbers”) provides a breakdown of fire incidents involving e-bikes, e-scooters and other lithium battery fires attended by London Fire Brigade (LFB) from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2025.

Two fires in 2025 in which lithium-ion batteries are believed to be involved remain under consideration by HM Coroner at the present time. Therefore, this could change as it is subject to the outcome of the Coroner’s investigation.

4. The highest number of casualties recorded in any single incident within this dataset, and which month/year this occurred in.

The highest number of casualties recorded in a single incident was 8, which occurred in April 2025 in an e-bike related incident.

5. The number of these incidents that occurred in dwellings.

Data for the above can be seen in the tabs:

(Property type E-Bike / Property type E-Scooter / Property type Other Lithium Ion Battery).

Note: The numbers for property type are approximate and may differ from the actual number of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters. This dataset reflects the figures from 2022-2025 we do not hold detailed data pre 2022.

6. Where recorded, the size of fire for these incidents (e.g. item, room, one floor, two or more floors, whole building).

Please see the worksheet: [Incidents by Fire Size].

This data is approximate only.

We have dealt with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. For more information about this process please see the guidance we publish about making a request on our website:

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about-us/transparency/request-information-from-us

Documents

This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.