E-bike catches fire whilst charging in Hythe

An electric bike caught alight whilst on charge at a Hythe home last weekend.

The vehicle was in a ground-floor utility room of the property on Cedar Road at the time, and plugged in to a charger purchased seperately to the e-bike and from a different manufacturer, highlighting the importance of always using the charger your device originally came with.

One of the occupants moved the bike out into the garden prior to the arrival of HIWFRS, reducing the damage inside the property.

On-call crews from Hardley, Hythe and Beaulieu were alerted at 14:46 on Saturday afternoon.

Wearing breathing apparatus and using hose reel jets, the firefighters were able extinguish the bike and the battery pack.

Four casualties were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns by South Central Ambulance Service paramedics.

The stop message came in at 15:48 after the crews had delivered community fire safety materials to surrounding properties.

The number of incidents we are seeing caused by lithium-ion batteries is on the rise so to protect yourself, your family, and your home from fire, here are some top fire safety tips to keep in mind:

• Buy from reputable retailers and look for the UKCA or CE symbol on the product to ensure it is properly certified.
• You can be informed of dangerous goods and product recalls for electrical appliances by registering your items online.
• Ensure you always use the charger your device originally came with.
• Don’t overload your plug sockets or leave items on charge overnight/unattended.
• Keep an eye out for scorch marks, hot plugs or flickering lights as this could be a sign of dangerous wiring.
• If you’re looking to dispose of your electrical product, check your local waste guidance to safely throw away batteries.

Read more on our dedicated battery and chargers safety page.