Flying Wire Charging Poses Persistent Fire Risk in Luoyang

A resident of Luoyang’s Jianxi District has raised urgent concerns about the persistent safety hazards posed by “flying wire charging” — the practice of running electrical cables from homes to charge electric vehicles outdoors. In a letter published in the People’s Daily on August 3, the resident detailed multiple fire incidents linked to the practice and called on authorities to take decisive action.

A Recurring Danger

The letter, written by a resident identified as Mr. Liu of the Xiyuan Huating residential community, describes a troubling pattern of incidents. The community previously experienced a self-ignition incident during rainy weather caused by flying wire electric vehicle charging. Last year, another electric vehicle caught fire during nighttime charging, narrowly avoiding disaster due to timely discovery.

“Despite the community’s frequent awareness campaigns advising residents not to run private wires, and recent nighttime fire safety inspections by relevant authorities, flying wire charging has never been eliminated,” Mr. Liu wrote, as reported by People’s Daily Online. He urged management departments to investigate the situation in depth and propose reasonable, effective solutions, adding that those who disregard public safety should be dealt with strictly according to law.

The letter was published in the newspaper’s “Things Around Us” (身边事) column, a long-running feature in the Readers’ Letters section that publishes citizen complaints about local issues and has a track record of prompting government responses.

A National Problem

Flying wire charging is not unique to Luoyang. China has approximately 350 million electric bicycles in use, with annual sales exceeding 30 million units. According to the National Fire and Rescue Administration, 21,000 electric bicycle fires were reported in 2023 — a 17.4% increase from the previous year.

The State Council deployed a comprehensive rectification campaign for electric bicycle safety hazards in April 2024, following a People’s Daily analysis that examined how to make electric bicycles both convenient and safe. The analysis noted that most electric bicycle fires are battery-related, stemming from overcharging, improper charger use, illegal modifications, and environmental factors.

Recent incidents underscore the ongoing threat. In June 2026, multiple electric bicycle fire incidents were reported across China, including a charging area fire in Nanning, Guangxi that destroyed dozens of vehicles, and a lithium battery thermal runaway in Wenzhou, Zhejiang that caused three explosions in one minute, as documented in safety warnings. Flying wire charging was identified as a key cause, with a May 2026 fire in Guang’an, Sichuan destroying multiple vehicles and a charging shed.

Local Legislative Response

Luoyang has taken legal steps to address the issue. In October 2023, the Luoyang Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee passed a 12-article “Decision on the Governance of ‘Flying Wires’,” providing a legal framework for addressing the problem. The decision establishes principles of “government-led, territorial management, enterprise responsibility, source governance, and controlling new while managing old,” as reported by Tencent News.

Under the framework, district and county governments bear overall responsibility, urban management departments take the lead, and street offices and township governments handle implementation. Property management companies are responsible for daily inspections and stopping unauthorized wire installations.

Multiple districts in Luoyang have conducted rectification campaigns. Luolong District’s Xuefu Street organized a “flying wire charging” special rectification in March 2025, which included public education, comprehensive inspections, installation of charging infrastructure, and joint enforcement with fire and police departments, as documented by Toutiao. Luolong District conducted similar campaigns again in March and May 2026.

Why the Problem Persists

Despite these efforts, the practice continues. Experts point to several underlying factors: many older communities lack adequate charging infrastructure, some residents find centralized charging costs prohibitive, and flying wire charging offers the convenience of charging directly outside one’s home. Enforcement at the community level also remains inconsistent despite the legal framework.

The publication of Mr. Liu’s letter in the national People’s Daily brings this local issue to broader attention. The “Things Around Us” column has a history of prompting follow-up action from relevant authorities, and this case could lead to official responses from Luoyang city or Jianxi District authorities, increased enforcement, or investment in charging infrastructure.

What to Watch For

As China continues to grapple with electric bicycle safety, the question remains whether local governments can close the gap between policy intent and on-the-ground implementation. For residents of Xiyuan Huating and communities like it across China, the answer will determine whether the risk of another fire — and potentially a far more serious one — is finally eliminated.