Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Statistics Australia 2025 | EV Fire Solutions

Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Statistics Australia 2025 | EV Fire Solutions

The 2025 picture: lithium-ion battery fires in Australia | EV Fire Solutions
Safety DataWeek 1 · Post 1

The 2025 picture: lithium-ion battery fires in Australia

Battery fires are no longer a fringe risk. Across Australia, the numbers have climbed sharply every year — and 2024–2025 marked some sobering firsts.

Fire and Rescue NSW describes lithium-ion batteries as the fastest-growing fire risk in the state, and the data backs that up. NSW recorded roughly 165 lithium-ion battery fires in 2022, 272 in 2023, and well over 300 in 2024 — a sustained year-on-year climb that shows no sign of slowing (Fire and Rescue NSW, 2025; EPA NSW, 2025).

165
NSW battery fires, 2022
272
NSW battery fires, 2023
300+
NSW battery fires, 2024

The human cost rose alongside the count. In 2024, NSW recorded its first deaths attributed to a lithium-ion battery fire, and the service notes that a person is roughly four times more likely to be injured in a battery-related fire than in other fire types (Storemasta, 2025). The problem is national: in Western Australia, 2024 was described as the worst year on record, with a battery-related fire occurring nearly every second day (EV Fire Solutions, 2025).

Why the trend is accelerating

The simple driver is volume. As e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools, electric vehicles and home energy storage all multiply, so does the number of cells in circulation. The most common ignition factors investigators identify are using an incorrect charger and modifying a device — both avoidable with the right habits and equipment.

The takeaway: the risk is real but manageable. The right combination of safe-charging habits, correct disposal, and on-hand suppression equipment dramatically reduces the chance that a single faulty cell becomes a house or warehouse fire.

Having purpose-built equipment within reach matters because these fires escalate in seconds. A compact EV fire extinguisher or an EV fire blanket gives you a fighting chance to contain a small device fire before it spreads. For most homes, the simplest starting point is a ready-made EV fire safety bundle.

Protect your home →

References

  1. Environment Protection Authority NSW. (2025, February 10). Spate of lithium-ion fires and NSW Government survey sparks community wakeup call on battery risks. https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/epamedia/250210-spate-of-lithium-ion-fires-and-nsw-government-survey-sparks-community-wakeup-call-on-battery-risks
  2. EV Fire Solutions. (2025, July 16). Lithium battery fires in Australia: A growing safety challenge. https://evfiresolutions.com.au/blogs/news/lithium-battery-fires-in-australia-a-growing-safety-challenge
  3. Storemasta. (2025, March 6). Firefighters battle growing lithium battery crisis. https://blog.storemasta.com.au/firefighters-battle-growing-lithium-battery-crisis
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