Firefighters worked through the night to tackle the fire in Gosport that started in a domestic three storey property and spread through the roof to neighbouring properties. The initial reports and the preliminary fire investigation has found that an e-scooter is the most likely cause of the fire.
The main danger occurs when e-bikes and e-scooters are left on charge and unattended in homes or in communal areas such as hallways and stairwells. Charging lithium batteries indoors increases the fire risk, especially if charged overnight when occupants are sleeping.
Station Manager Lacey Plumbley who attended the Gosport fire said: “E-bikes and e-scooters with lithium-ion batteries can catch fire quickly and with little warning. Thankfully everyone managed to evacuate the properties safely, but a number of families have seen their homes severely damaged as a result of this fire.
“We are urging people to keep an eye on their e-scooter and e-bikes when they are charging them and to think carefully about where they store them. Ideally they should be stored outside, but if they have to be stored inside avoid blocking emergency escape routes.”
Safety advice:
- Always use the charger that came with your product as poor quality chargers can damage batteries and increase the risk of fire.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to charge batteries and unplug when the charge is complete.
- Never leave a charger plugged in overnight or unattended.
- Only choose branded, genuine products from a reputable retailer.
- Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
- Don’t overload your sockets.
- Ensure you regularly check batteries for signs of damage.
- If a battery is not holding charge, gets hot, bulges or you hear hissing noises when charging, unplug immediately.
- Always charge e-bikes/e-scooters clear of exits and your escape routes so you can easily escape in the event of a fire.
- Never cover chargers or battery packs as this could lead to overheating or a fire.
- Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the areas where you store or charge your e-bike/e-scooter.
- If there are any evident signs of fire such as the battery smoking or flames, raise the alarm immediately, get out, stay out and call 999.