Lithium batteries continue to cause fires
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364874)
Rockingham, Australia
August 8, 2025 9:12pm CST
One of today’s Western Australia’s news items was on the rise of fires caused by lithium batteries.
So far this year there has been 94 fires caused by exploding batteries in such items as laptops, power banks, e-rideables and power tools. E-rideables were responsible for 19 fires. There were forty-nine fires in 2020 and that number has risen to 94 up to August in 2025. To be fair, the number of lithium batteries in use has probably grown substantially too.
Another interesting statistic is that almost a third of the fires involved batteries which ignited when they were not charging. The article said batteries could enter ‘thermal runway’, causing them to overheat, explode or emit toxic gas. Over-charging could also lead to battery failure as could poor-quality or damaged batteries.
Batteries should be charged on a hard surface and away from flammables such as doonas, carpets and couches. Smoke alarms should be kept up to date, especially in garages where a lot of these types of fires start.
I didn’t have a photo of a battery so you’ve got a photo of a kangaroo.
14 people like this
15 responses
@luisadannointed (9453)
• Philippines
9 Aug
That's scary, but the truth is I don't charge my laptop whenever i am in a cafe instead I make sure I already charge it full so I can work longer in a cafe without charging it. I don't want to cause anything.
Waaaahhh I hope everything is fine with out laptops whenever and wherever we are.
2 people like this
@luisadannointed (9453)
• Philippines
9 Aug
@JudyEv thank you for that kind words, but since my laptop is almost now a decade, hehehehe, I am being mindful nowadays.
1 person likes this
@abhi_bangal (7684)
• Ahmednagar, India
12 Aug
@JudyEv Yup. That's the positive side. Millions more don't explode either.
@abhi_bangal (7684)
• Ahmednagar, India
12 Aug
This takes my memories back to the Galaxy Note 7 series as the phone was also prone to exploding. The headache went to such a level that the phone had finally to be discontinued.
Anyway, the manufacturing quantity of the phone is also on the rise. That's why fast production could lead to compromised production in the first place.
1 person likes this
@abhi_bangal (7684)
• Ahmednagar, India
13 Aug
@JudyEv As a matter of fact there's so much of increased demand in almost every sector of life that we have forgotten to put safety and health at the forefront. That's why we are seeing adulteration and accidents on the rise regularly.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (198254)
• United States
9 Aug
That's pretty scary. I had not idea they were that dangerous.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (154166)
• India
9 Aug
The power in my computer conked out that made a noise. I do not know what kind of a battery that iis and It has been replaced. at a cost
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (124431)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Aug
Kangaroos make better pictures.
Batteries are dangerous anymore.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (124431)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Aug
@JudyEv They are maybe stressed more.
1 person likes this
@sathviksouvik (21743)
•
11 Aug
thanks judy i first thought there is a connection with the batteries and the kangaroos. I have kept my laptop connected to the house socket
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364874)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Aug
When I don't have an appropriate photo, I put up something else that I think people might like to see.
@LindaOHio (205102)
• United States
9 Aug
Now I have something else to worry about.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15378)
• Hong Kong
9 Aug
My laptop is plugged into a power outlet. It's always fully charged. So far, no problem.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (79875)
• United States
9 Aug
There are concerns here for firefighters who have to deal with lithium battery fires. Something needs to be done.
PS: I prefer the photo of the kangaroo. 
1 person likes this
