Exploding e-scooter battery sets Hampshire house alight

Footage released by fire and rescue service shows how blaze took hold at
property in Bordon

Harry Taylor
@harrytaylr
Mon 14 Nov 2022 19.00 GMT

An exploding electric scooter battery caused a house fire in Hampshire on
Sunday, which led to a man being treated by paramedics.

Crews from Hampshire fire and rescue service (HRFS) were called to Bordon,
a small town in the east of the county, just after 7pm. They found a blaze
caused by the battery pack, which was charging when it blew up.

Firefighters in breathing equipment put out the fire before ventilating the
house. A video from the scene shows a fire burning through a cover over the
electric scooter. A car port was damaged.

HFRS warned people to follow fire safety advice.

A couple living at the house were evacuated, and a man was treated by
paramedics. The fire occurred a day before the start of Electrical Fire
Safety Week, which is run in partnership with the Home Office.

Blazes involving batteries on e-bikes and e-scooters have become more
frequent as the modes of transport have increased in popularity. In recent
months others have broken out in Shepherd’s Bush, Stepney Green and Camden
in London. The fire in Camden three weeks ago led to the evacuation of 12
people.

E-scooters are banned from Transport for London services after a fire on a
tube train in Parsons Green in 2021.

The London fire brigade has said crews are often seeing blazes caused by
batteries bought online, which may not meet adequate safety standards.

People are advised not to leave items charging while they sleep, and to
charge devices on a hard, flat surface in rooms where there is a smoke
alarm.

<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/nov/14/exploding-e-scooter-battery-hampshire-house-alight-fire>

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