How London’s appliance fires changed

What changed in London’s appliance fires over 15 years? Fires where battery chargers were recorded as the source of ignition rose from 2 in 2010/11 to 18 in 2025/26. Tumble-dryer fires rose from 59 to 86, and outdoor cooking from 21 to 29. Dishwasher fires went the other way, falling from 52 to 14, while TV/video/audio fell from 28 to 8.

There is no single explanation. Government research links the rise in battery-charger fires to the growing number of rechargeable devices, as well as faulty and counterfeit chargers. The fall in TV fires may partly reflect the replacement of old CRT sets with flat screens. For tumble dryers, dishwashers and outdoor cooking, the evidence is less clear: changes in how common the appliances are may matter, but the data do not tell us why the numbers changed.

Data and methodology: I used government data on domestic appliance fires in Greater London and compared 2010/11 with 2025/26. I grouped a few similar appliances to make the chart easier to read. The numbers show recorded fires, not how dangerous each appliance is.

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