An increase in fires caused by items that contain batteries - Find a freedom of information request

Request

We would like to investigate whether there has been an increase in fires caused by items that contain batteries (including lithum-ion batteries). For instance, toys, laptops, electric toothbrushes etc.

1. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021

2. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022

3. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2023 to 30.10.2023

4. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021

5. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022

6. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2023 to 30.10.2023

If possible, please can you detail what has caused the fire, or what is thought to have caused the fire so we can identify the source of the fire.

I would like you to provide this information in an excel document and have the data broken down by month per year so we can see if there are any spikes on particular months over the years.

For instance, if there are any spikes in November, December or January when people may be clearing out homes in or around the Christmas period.

Decision

I can confirm that the information requested is not held by Lincolnshire County Council

There is no specific recording mechanism at LFR for whether an item contained a battery that was the cause of fire.

Reference number
FOI 8307549
Date request received
08/11/23
Date of decision
28/11/23