East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is urging members of the public to charge batteries safely following an accidental fire in Eastbourne on Wednesday 13 March 2024.
Crews were called at 7.27pm to reports of a fire at a house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Whitley Road, Eastbourne.
Two fire engines from Eastbourne were in attendance and firefighters used breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet and one covering jet to extinguish the fire.
The fire was likely to have been caused by an e-bike battery being charged in the communal area.
One person was handed into the care of the ambulance crews.
Crews also completed a ‘hot strike,’ providing targeted home safety advice to residents.
Station Manager Protection, Scott Saunders said: ‘’East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service recognise people don’t always understand the risks associated with charging e-bikes and e-scooters. Make sure you buy them from a reputable supplier and store and charge them safely to keep your families, homes and others safe. If you have to keep them indoors make sure you store them away from escape routes and do not block any exits.”
For further advice around e-bikes and e-scooters, including charging safely, please visit: Guide to Fire Safety for E-bikes and E-scooters | East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (esfrs.org)
Free home safety visits
If you have any questions about fire safety in the home, we offer a free Home safety check service. If you would like to find out more you can:
- call us on 0800 177 7069
- or complete and return a Home Safety Visit Request Form. This asks a number of questions so we can make sure we send the right members of our team to support you.
Other useful links:
E-bikes and e-scooters fire safety guidance - NFCC
How to keep your home safe when charging your e-bike or e-scooter | Fire England