E-bike bursts into flames, shooting fire several meters high on Chinese street

A parked electric bike suddenly burst into flames on a street in southeastern China, sending a towering jet of fire several meters into the air.

The incident occurred at around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 22 on Huiwen Road in Xiamen, Fujian Province, according to Chinese news outlet Beijing News.

Video footage shows flames erupting from beneath the vehicle's seat and shooting several meters into the air like a rocket engine, accompanied by repeated explosions.

The e-bike was parked outside a row of shops, prompting customers inside nearby businesses to evacuate.

A shopkeeper approached the burning vehicle in an attempt to move two other electric two-wheelers parked nearby. However, he accidentally knocked over the burning bike, further complicating the situation, according to Chinese technology news outlet Kuai Technology.

Police and firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze.

The intense heat blackened roadside stone barriers and scorched tree branches overhead. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not spread to other vehicles. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Fire safety authorities have warned that lithium-ion battery fires can reignite even after the initial flames are extinguished, posing risks of burns and injuries from explosions.

People are advised to move to a safe distance and contact emergency services rather than approach burning EVs. Unauthorized battery modifications are among the safety concerns associated with electric two-wheelers in China, as some owners replace original batteries with higher-capacity or homemade alternatives to increase speed and driving range.

Such modifications can overload electrical components or compromise battery protection systems, increasing the risk of overheating and fires.

China recorded 7,048 electric bicycle fires in the first half of 2025, down 44.7% from a year earlier, according to the National Fire and Rescue Administration.