Electric scooters pose summer fire risk, data shows

An electric scooter parked on sidewalk. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Electric scooters are at a higher risk of catching fire in the summer, according to statistics from the National Fire Data System released on Wednesday.

There have been 467 cases of fires caused by electric scooters over the past five years, the statistics revealed.

Of these, 175 incidents occurred in the summer months — June to August — accounting for 37.5 percent of the total. This figure is more than double the number of fires that took place in the winter, which was 75 cases.

"Scooter batteries are more likely to overheat in the summer due to rising temperatures, which can lead to fires,” the National Fire Agency said.

The number of electric scooter fires is also on the rise. Last year, there were 114 fires, two and a half times more than the 46 incidents recorded in 2019. Last year, two people died and 28 were injured in electric scooter fires.

"The increase in the number of fires follows the rise in electric scooter users," a National Fire Agency official said.

Nearly half of the 467 electric scooter fires in the past five years occurred in residential facilities, with 197 of those fires happening in apartment buildings. This means that one in three electric scooter fires over the past five years took place in such dwellings.

Electrical issues, including overload, overcurrent and insulation deterioration, were the leading causes of these fires, accounting for 226 cases or 48.4 percent. Mechanical problems, such as overheating and failed automatic controls, followed with 122 cases or 26.1 percent, while chemical issues accounted for 45 cases or 9.6 percent and negligence was responsible for 26 cases or 5.6 percent.

More than half of the fires — 267 cases or 57.2 percent — occurred while the scooters were being charged.

For instance, an apartment fire in Ulsan in January 2023, which resulted in two deaths and the complete destruction of the building, and another apartment fire in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang in May of the same year that injured 11 people, both occurred while the scooters were charging.

Fire authorities outlined several safety recommendations to prevent fires — use scooters with safety certifications like the KC Safety Certification, avoid storage in high-temperature areas, unplug chargers after charging has finished and avoid unauthorized modifications to increase the capability.

To escape faster during a fire, users should refrain from charging scooters near entrances and emergency exits, as battery fires can spread at extraordinary speed.

"Being occupied with other activities while charging the electric scooter can delay fire detection, leading to greater damage," said Choi Hong-young, manager of the Fire Response and Investigation Division at the National Fire Agency, recommending that users charge scooters in visible areas.

BY LEE SOO-KI, WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]