The Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters has urged caution regarding fires occurring during the charging of lithium-ion batteries in electric bicycles and scooters. Recently, incidents of fires starting while charging at home turning into major accidents have heightened social alertness.
According to the headquarters, there have been a total of 346 lithium-ion battery-related fires in Seoul from 2023 to August 2025. On October 1, they conducted a fire simulation at a planned reconstruction apartment in Sanggye, Nowon-gu, simulating indoor charging.
The simulation was conducted under conditions similar to a real residential environment. Combustible materials such as a bed mattress, furniture, and appliances were arranged, with a battery installed inside the apartment entrance. An electric heating pad was used to ignite the battery pack, observing the process of thermal runaway and the spread of flames and smoke. Fire trucks and personnel were deployed on site to manage safety and extinguish residual fires.
This simulation was part of an agreement signed in June between the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters and the Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH) to strengthen apartment fire safety. The two organizations are providing fire prevention education and safety consulting to residents of 81 SH rental housing sites, maintaining a cooperative system for apartment fire safety.
Hong Young-geun, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters, emphasized, “If a fire occurs while charging batteries at home, it can spread quickly and cause significant damage. Most lithium-ion battery fires start from overcharging, so it’s important to follow the charging time guidelines and regularly check the batteries to adhere to safety regulations.”