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Battery warning after crews tackle 'e-scooter blaze'

Samantha NobleEast Midlands
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service A photograph from the inside of a severely fire damaged house. The window is smashed and outside a fire engine is parked on the road. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
Flames were coming through the windows when crews arrived, the fire service said

Firefighters have issued a warning about lithium-ion batteries after tackling a house fire believed to have been caused by a charging e-scooter.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to Baker Street in Alvaston, Derby, at 02:01 BST on Saturday. Firefighters were met with a well-developed fire on the ground floor, with flames coming through the windows, the fire service said.

Crews rescued a woman from scaffolding outside the property, and she and one other occupant went to hospital for precautionary checks due to smoke inhalation.

The fire service said "a charging e-scooter is believed to be the most likely cause" of the blaze.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service A pile of burnt items on the floor, like clothesDerbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
The fire service has released photos of the damage

Firefighters from Kingsway, Ascot Drive and Nottingham Road attended and left the scene with the fire out at 03.49.

In a statement, Ellie Gillatt, area manager for fire prevention, said: "This incident is a stark reminder of how quickly fires involving lithium-ion batteries can develop.

"E-scooters and e-bikes are becoming increasingly popular, but if batteries are damaged, faulty or charged incorrectly, they can catch fire and spread rapidly due to thermal runaway - a chemical process that happens when the batteries are involved in fire.

"These fires also produce large amounts of smoke and toxic gases."

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service A burnt appliance on the right and on the left are burnt items which are hard to identifyDerbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
The blaze has prompted a warning from the fire service about charging lithium-ion batteries

Gillatt urged anyone who owns an e-scooter or e-bike to "take simple steps to reduce the risk of fire".

She added: "Always use the manufacturer-approved charger, avoid overcharging batteries, and never leave them charging while you are asleep or away from home.

"It is also important not to charge or store these devices near escape routes, as a fire can spread rapidly and affect your ability to get out safely.

"Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in this incident, but the outcome could have been very different.

"Our message is simple: charge and store e-scooters and e-bikes safely, make sure you have working smoke alarms, and if a battery catches fire, get out, stay out and call 999."

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