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Statistics on fires caused by lithium-ion batteries

sian broad made this Freedom of Information request to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as part of a batch sent to 86 authorities Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

We're waiting for sian broad to read recent responses and update the status.

30.10.2023

Dear Sir/Madam

We would like to investigate whether there has been an increase in fires caused by items that contain lithium-ion batteries, particularly items that children or young people have access to, such as toys, phones and laptops etc.

Therefore, under Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations, I would like to request the following information:

-The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021

-The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022

-The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from 01.01.2023 to 30.10.2023

-The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021

-The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022

-The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops 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.

Please do not hesitate to contact me on 07725355778 or [email address] should any aspect of my request require clarification, or you need more information from me to handle this enquiry.

Yours faithfully,
Sian

Lisa Smith (IG), Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

I am out of the office until 31 October. For urgent enquiries or to submit
a data protection or freedom of information request, please contact
[email address]

 

Many thanks

Lisa Smith

Information Governance Manager

 

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Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service monitors all Internet e-mail
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loss or damage sustained as a result of software viruses. Intended
recipients are responsible for carrying out virus checking as is necessary
before opening any attachments.

Deborah Lowe, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Our ref: FOI 23 151

 

Good Morning Sian,

 

Thank you for your request for information in relation to fire statistics
for lithium-ion batteries, particularly items that children or young
people have access to, such as toys, phones and laptops.

 

We received your request on 30^th October 2023 and we are dealing with it
under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We will supply you
with our findings as soon as possible, on or before 27^th November 2023.

 

If you have any queries regarding this request, please contact me
directly, quoting the reference number above.

 

Kind Regards

 

Debbie Lowe

Information Governance Officer

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

01722 691315

dwfire.org.uk

@DWFireRescue

 

 

Internet e-mail is not to be regarded as a secure means of communication.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service monitors all Internet e-mail
activity and content. This communication and any files transmitted with it
is intended for the person(s) to whom it is addressed and may be
confidential, legally privileged and protected in law. Unauthorised use,
disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited. Please notify the
sender if received in error then delete it from your system. Opinions
expressed in this communication may not be official policy. Whilst every
effort is made to carefully choose websites that we may provide links to,
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service cannot guarantee the standards
of these sites. Virus Disclaimer: Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
Service takes all reasonable steps to ensure electronic communications are
protected from virus infection but cannot accept any liability for any
loss or damage sustained as a result of software viruses. Intended
recipients are responsible for carrying out virus checking as is necessary
before opening any attachments.

Deborah Lowe, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

1 Attachment

Good Morning Sian,

 

Further to your request of 30^th October 2023 and the 7^th November 2023,
which we have treated as a Freedom of Information request, please find
below our response to the information you requested.

 

Query:

We would like to investigate whether there has been an increase in fires
caused by items that contain lithium-ion batteries, particularly items
that children or young people have access to, such as toys, phones and
laptops etc.

Therefore, under Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information
Regulations, I would like to request the following information:

-The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by
lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from
01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021

-The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by
lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from
01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022

-The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by
lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops from
01.01.2023 to 30.10.2023

-The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires
caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys,
toothbrushes, phones and laptops from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021

-The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires
caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys,
toothbrushes, phones and laptops from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022

-The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires
caused (or thought to be caused) by lithium-ion batteries in toys,
toothbrushes, phones and laptops 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.

 

 

Response:

Our recording system does not have a specific category for recording
lithium-ion batteries in toys, toothbrushes, phones and laptops, therefore
we have used the search term lithium ion batteries.  Please note apart
from one entry we are unable to say if these batteries were found in toys,
toothbrushes or laptops as this granular detail is not recorded.

 

Please see the table attached for the figures

 

I trust that this answers your queries, however, if you are unhappy with
the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make
a complaint or request a review of the decision, you should write to the
Information Governance Team, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service,
Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre, Hulse Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
SP1 3NR within 40 working days of receipt of the original
decision. Alternatively, you can
email [1][email address] .

 

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you
may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a
decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have
exhausted the complaints procedure at the Fire Authority. The ICO can be
contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

0303 123 1113

 

[2]www.ico.org.uk

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Debbie Lowe

Information Governance Officer

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

01722 691315

dwfire.org.uk

@DWFireRescue

Internet e-mail is not to be regarded as a secure means of communication.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service monitors all Internet e-mail
activity and content. This communication and any files transmitted with it
is intended for the person(s) to whom it is addressed and may be
confidential, legally privileged and protected in law. Unauthorised use,
disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited. Please notify the
sender if received in error then delete it from your system. Opinions
expressed in this communication may not be official policy. Whilst every
effort is made to carefully choose websites that we may provide links to,
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service cannot guarantee the standards
of these sites. Virus Disclaimer: Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
Service takes all reasonable steps to ensure electronic communications are
protected from virus infection but cannot accept any liability for any
loss or damage sustained as a result of software viruses. Intended
recipients are responsible for carrying out virus checking as is necessary
before opening any attachments.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.ico.org.uk/

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are sian broad please sign in and let everyone know.