What The Latest Fire Data Shows
In New York City, FDNY reported 277 lithium-ion battery fires in 2024, compared with 268 in 2023. These fires caused 6 deaths in 2024, down from 18 deaths in 2023. In London, official city data reported 521 fire incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in 2025, a 28% increase from the previous year. South Korea’s National Fire Agency reported 678 lithium-ion battery fires from 2020 to 2024, with annual cases rising from 98 in 2020 to 117 in 2024.
Region | Reported Period | Lithium Battery Fire Data
New York City | 2024 | 277 fires reported by FDNY
London | 2025 | 521 incidents involving lithium-ion batteries
South Korea | 2020 to 2024 | 678 fires in five years
South Korea | 2024 | 117 fires reported
Why The Numbers Are Increasing
Lithium battery fires are increasing mainly because lithium-powered products are used in more devices, tools, mobility products, storage equipment, and industrial systems. The International Energy Agency reports strong growth in global battery demand, especially in energy storage and electrified applications. More batteries in use means quality control, charging safety, storage guidance, and transport compliance become more important.
Fire risks may come from overcharge, short circuit, physical damage, high temperature, poor charger matching, low-quality cells, or unsafe storage. In bulk supply, even a small quality issue can become a larger safety concern when thousands of batteries are stored, transported, or assembled together.
Manufacturer vs Trader In Fire Risk Control
A trader may provide finished batteries and pricing, but may not control raw materials, production environment, inspection records, or batch traceability. A manufacturer can manage safety from the beginning of the production process.
Hongli focuses on lithium battery manufacturing with controlled production, quality inspection, packaging review, and export-oriented documentation support. This helps customers reduce uncertainty when sourcing batteries for long-term supply, device assembly, and project deployment.
Manufacturing Process Overview
A stable lithium battery starts with raw material inspection, electrode preparation, cell assembly, electrolyte filling, sealing, aging, voltage testing, capacity testing, internal resistance testing, and final packaging.
Each step affects safety. Poor sealing may cause leakage. Unstable internal resistance may increase heat generation. Weak terminal protection may create short-circuit risk during shipment. Hongli’s process control helps improve product consistency before batteries enter global supply chains.
Quality Control Checkpoints
Fire risk reduction depends on strict inspection. Key checkpoints include incoming material inspection, open-circuit voltage testing, capacity testing, internal resistance testing, leakage inspection, sealing inspection, appearance inspection, short-circuit prevention, packaging review, and shipment sampling.
UN38.3 transport testing includes altitude simulation, thermal test, vibration, shock, external short circuit, impact, overcharge, and forced discharge. These tests are widely required for lithium battery transport and help support safer international shipping.
OEM / ODM Process And Safety Design
In OEM / ODM projects, safety requirements should be confirmed before mass production. Battery chemistry, voltage, capacity, discharge current, working temperature, terminal structure, protection design, labeling, and packaging should match the final product.
Hongli can support customized battery solutions, sample confirmation, technical communication, packaging, labeling, and export documents. This helps reduce mismatch risks that may lead to overheating, abnormal discharge, or storage problems.
Bulk Supply Considerations
For bulk orders, buyers should confirm production capacity, batch number control, shelf life, storage guidance, carton strength, terminal protection, MSDS, UN38.3 report, and export classification.
Proper storage is also important. Batteries should be kept in cool, dry conditions and protected from heat, moisture, crushing, and terminal contact. These measures reduce fire risk during warehousing and long-distance shipment.
Project Sourcing Checklist
A practical sourcing checklist should include battery chemistry, nominal voltage, capacity range, discharge requirement, safety documents, MSDS, UN38.3 report, packaging method, storage instruction, labeling, batch traceability, and after-sales handling process.
These details help evaluate whether a supplier can support safe long-term delivery instead of only offering a low unit price.
Export Market Compliance
Lithium batteries are controlled goods in international transport. Common export requirements include safe packaging, correct shipping marks, MSDS, UN38.3 report, and accurate transport classification. Some markets may also require recycling, disposal, or fire safety information.
Hongli’s manufacturing and export support helps customers prepare documents more efficiently, reduce shipment delays, and improve compliance consistency across international projects.
Conclusion
Annual lithium battery fire numbers differ by region, but recent data from New York, London, and South Korea shows that incidents remain a serious safety issue. The best response is not only emergency handling, but also prevention through reliable manufacturing, strict testing, safe packaging, and compliant export documents.
Hongli supports lithium battery projects through manufacturing control, OEM / ODM customization, quality checkpoints, stable bulk supply, and export-ready documentation. This provides a safer foundation for procurement, shipment, storage, and long-term application.