A Swindon home has been severely damaged after an electric bike blaze.
Fire crews were called to a property in Allington Road, Penhill, on Saturday afternoon.
The ground floor was found to be well alight, and four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets to extinguish the flames.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said that the occupants of the house were out on their arrival.
One male was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after suffering smoke inhalation during the incident.
DWFRS confirmed that the cause of the fire was an issue with lithium-ion battery in an electric bike.
The family have set up a GoFundMe in a bid to raise money to replace items lost in the fire.
Station Manager Dave Geddes said: “There is always a risk that lithium-ion batteries can fail catastrophically, ‘explode’ and/or lead to a rapidly developing fire.
“We would therefore always urge anyone with an e-bike or e-scooter to take every precaution to ensure that is charged as safely as possible.
“Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, unplug the charger as soon as it’s finished, and only ever use the correct charger.”
Other top tips include:
- Make sure you have working smoke alarms. If you charge or store your e-bike or e-scooter in a garage or kitchen, ensure you install detection – heat alarms rather smoke detectors are recommended for these areas.
- Charge batteries whilst you are awake and alert so, if a fire should occur, you can respond quickly. Don’t leave batteries to charge while you are asleep or away from the home.
- Don’t cover chargers or battery packs when charging, as this could lead to overheating or even a fire.
- Don’t overload socket outlets or use inappropriate extension leads (use uncoiled extensions and make sure the lead is suitably rated for what you are plugging into it).
- Avoid storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters on escape routes or in communal areas of a multi occupied building. If there’s a fire, it can affect people’s ability to escape.
For more electric bike and scooter safety advice, visit the DWFRS website.
