By Lewis Nibbelin, Research Writer, Triple-I
Lithium-ion batteries increasingly power the ways people work, travel, and communicate every day, commanding a global market worth more than $150 billion. But whereas reliance on these batteries has grown, public awareness of how to properly use, charge, and store them remains limited, raising the likelihood of battery-fueled fires.
During Fire Prevention Week (October 4–10, 2026), Triple-I and the National Fire Protection Association are highlighting the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and steps consumers can take to keep their homes and communities safer.
Adoption outpaces understanding
Lithium-ion batteries span a wide range of applications, including smartphones, laptops, Bluetooth headsets, cordless tools, toothbrushes, and other common household items. Most electric vehicles and e-mobility devices like e-bikes and scooters also operate on the technology. As adoption of these products skyrocketed, U.S. imports of the batteries climbed from $3.2 billion in 2018 to $23.8 billion in 2024, based on data from the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research.
Today, nearly every American owns at least one rechargeable device, at 98% of consumers, according to a recent report developed by UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE). On average, consumers own nine rechargeable devices in total.
Yet 50% of consumers revealed they knew nothing about lithium-ion batteries, ULSE reported. A staggering 60% indicated they were unaware their everyday devices used these batteries, even as the frequency of related incidents has increased.
Many incidents are the result of thermal runaway, which occurs when a lithium-ion cell generates heat uncontrollably. While small amounts of heat are normal, cells that reach thermal runaway can severely overheat, emit smoke, catch fire, or explode. Airlines experience an average of 2.36 such incidents per week, ULSE found, with incidents on passenger aircraft rising 15% from 2024 to 2025.
Incidents linked to e-mobility devices have followed a similar trend. In New York City alone, e-mobility fires led to an estimated $518.6 million in combined human and economic loss between 2019 and 2023, according to a joint study from ULSE and Oxford Economics that pulled from Triple-I data.
Among those aware of the risks, many continue to overlook their personal vulnerability. About 56% of respondents surveyed by ULSE did not believe they were at risk of an overheating event. But while the frequency of battery-caused fires remains low, such events carry among the highest average severities of any peril. Of the 6% who reported incidents in or around their homes in the past five years, 45% reported medium damage and 18% reported major damage.
The outsized impact of these events underscores the need for improved enforcement of lithium-ion battery safety standards, including outreach to consumers on the everyday habits that help reduce their own exposure.
Tips to prevent fires
Outcomes of electrical fires are largely determined by individual preparedness and early detection. Consumers can mitigate the risk through the following precautions:
- Stop using a device if it feels hot, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes a popping or hissing sound.
- Charge devices on a hard, flat surface. Soft surfaces like beds and couches can cause overheating.
- Unplug devices once they are fully charged. Continuing to charge the device may cause overheating.
- For e-mobility and other large devices, charge outside. Do not charge devices near exits.
- While on a plane, keep devices within reach. Do not place them in overhead bins.
- Purchase devices that earned certification marks from recognized testing laboratories. Counterfeit or imitation products may not meet the same safety standards.
- Return devices if they are recalled. Nearly 75% of consumers in a ULSE survey reported not returning a recalled rechargeable product.
Electrical monitoring sensors can also help prevent fires before ignition occurs. Ting Labs – maker of the Ting home fire prevention solution – found that their technology reduced fire claims by approximately 63%, resulting in 0.39 fewer electrical fire claims per 1,000 home years of experience, in the third year after installation. This amounts to a fire claims reduction benefit of $81 per customer per year.
For more information and resources, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week resource center here.
Learn More:
E-Mobility Battery Fire Data Exposes Potential “Blind Spot” for Insurers
Can a Fire-Prevention Device Be a “Gateway Drug” to Home Resilience?
IoT Solutions Offer Homeowners, Insurers Value — But How Much?
