Battery fires double in Greater Manchester as car blazes rise

Figures published by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) — in response to a freedom of information request submitted by Personal Injury Claims UK — show that fires ignited by batteries rose from 60 in the 2022/23 financial year to 139 in 2024/25.

Batteries are now a firm part of our everyday life, with lithium-ion batteries now found in products such as phones, laptops, batteries, and vapes. Larger batteries can also be found in cars and other everyday electrical products now too.

When used and handled correctly, these batteries pose minimal risk. However, they can present a serious injury or fatality risk if overcharged, short-circuited, submerged in water, or damaged.

Personal Injury Claims UK has gathered data from freedom of information requests sent to fire services across England and Wales. While fires are recorded differently by every force, so it’s hard to draw too many comparisons, the majority have reported a rise in fires caused by batteries.

Greater Manchester has seen one of the largest rises in battery fires. There was an 88% rise in battery fires in the 12 months to April 2024, with incidents rising from 60 to 110.

The following year (2024/25), there were 139 battery fires. This represents a year-on-year rise of 26%. Between 2022/23 and 2024/25, incidents more than doubled.

In total, over the three years to March 2025, the fire brigade dealt with 309 battery fires.

Injuries

There were at least 19 injuries in each of the last two financial years caused by batteries, the data shows. The GMCA did not disclose the number of injuries in 2022/23, as the body said the number was below 10, so there is a risk of identification.

There were no fatalities in 2022/23 or the following year, but the force said there were “less than 10” in 2024/25.

Fire types

Vehicle fires have been a particular driving force behind the rise in battery incidents, the figures show. With Manchester itself suffering the most battery fires.

Data from 2024/25 shows that Manchester recorded the highest number of incidents, with 45 fires across the year. The majority were linked to dwellings (20) and road vehicles (13), followed by non-residential buildings (9) and other residential properties (3).

Wigan followed with 20 incidents, including 10 vehicle fires and 4 dwellings, while Bolton saw 15 incidents, mainly road vehicle (6) and dwelling fires (6). Stockport recorded 13 fires, with 6 dwellings, 3 non-residential, and 2 road vehicle incidents.

Other boroughs saw lower totals: Rochdale (12), Oldham (9), Salford (9), Trafford (10), Bury (5), and Tameside (6). Across Greater Manchester, road vehicle fires were the most common type (59 in total), followed by dwellings (48) and non-residential buildings (22).

Across the three years from 2022/23 to 2024/25, Manchester consistently recorded the highest number of fire incidents in Greater Manchester, rising from 23 in 2022/23 to 45 in 2024/25. Vehicle fires were a key driver of this trend, with Manchester seeing a steady increase from 10 to 13 over the period.

Wigan and Bolton also showed notable growth, each recording around double the number of incidents in 2024/25 compared to 2022/23. In Wigan, vehicle fires increased from 6 to 10, while Bolton saw dwelling and vehicle fires rise to a combined total of 12 in 2024/25.

Salford and Stockport remained steady, averaging around 8 to 10 incidents per year, while Rochdale, Trafford, and Oldham each recorded gradual increases, particularly in dwelling and non-residential categories.

Across the region, road vehicle fires remained the most common type over all three years, followed by dwelling fires and non-residential property incidents.

Injury

Patrick Mallon from Personal Injury Claims UK said: “We’ve seen a significant rise in battery fires in recent years across England and Wales, reflecting the growing presence of batteries in everyday life. From household devices to electric vehicles, it’s vital that people understand the potential risks and handle batteries with care.

“These fires have the potential to cause really serious injuries, so it’s important everyone is fully aware of how to use these batteries safely and manufacturers and workplaces are aware of their responsibilities to consumers, too. If you suffer an injury through no fault of your own, however, you could hold the manufacturer to account by pursuing a compensation claim.”