Why hotels need to prepare for lithium battery incidents

Key takeways:

• Hotels increasingly accommodate guests with lithium-powered devices.
• Charging lithium-ion batteries indoors can increase fire risk if batteries are damaged or defective.
• Dense toxic smoke is often the greatest challenge during evacuation.
• Clear charging policies and appropriate first-response equipment improve preparedness.

A recent hotel fire in Athens has once again drawn attention to the growing fire safety challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries.

Fortunately, all guests were evacuated, but the incident serves as an important reminder that lithium-powered devices have become part of everyday life in hotels around the world.

Although the cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed, early reports indicate the fire may have started while an electric scooter battery was charging.

Today, hotel guests commonly travel with rechargeable devices such as:

• Electric scooters
• E-bikes
• Power banks
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Cameras
• Portable tools

Hotels themselves also rely on lithium-powered equipment for cleaning, maintenance and day-to-day operations.

As the number of lithium-ion batteries inside buildings continues to grow, so does the need for appropriate fire safety planning.

This incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of charging electric scooters and other lithium-ion battery devices indoors, particularly in hotels, apartment buildings and other multi-storey buildings.

Overheated, damaged or defective lithium-ion batteries can enter thermal runaway with little warning, producing intense heat and dense toxic smoke that may pose an even greater risk than the flames themselves.

Hotels should consider reviewing:

• Charging policies for guests and staff
• Designated charging locations
• Charging away from exits and evacuation routes
• Staff awareness and emergency procedures
• Appropriate first-response equipment for lithium battery incidents

Preparedness is no longer only about preventing fires. It is also about reducing the consequences if an incident occurs.

The first few minutes of a lithium battery incident are often the most critical.

Solutions designed specifically for small lithium battery fires can help isolate the incident, reduce smoke spread and provide valuable time until emergency services arrive.

URBAN Emergency Fire Blanket is developed for first response to fires involving electric scooters, e-bikes, power banks, laptops and other portable lithium-ion battery devices, making it suitable for hotels, offices, schools, transport hubs and other public environments.

Note: This article references publicly available reports regarding the Athens hotel fire in June 2026. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. The article focuses on general fire safety considerations related to lithium-ion batteries.