East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is urging members of the public to #ChargeSafe following a fire in Hove on Tuesday 3 October.
Firefighters from Hove, Roedean, Preston Circus, Lewes, Newhaven, Eastbourne, and Seaford were called at 6.21pm to reports of fire at a residential property in Saunders Park View, Brighton. Crews used breathing apparatus, an Aerial Ladder Platform and two main jets to extinguish the fire.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police and South East Coast Ambulance were also in attendance.
All persons were accounted for and residents were looked after at a local rest centre by local authority.
The fire was likely to have been caused by an E-Bike battery.
#ChargeSafe
Earlier this year, London Fire Brigade launched their #ChargeSafe campaign to provide awareness of safe charging and storage practices and call attention to the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries commonly utilised in e-bikes and e-scooters.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service supports and promotes this campaign alongside the national FireKills campaign.
With Black Friday sales and Christmas around the corner we are encouraging members of the public to think before purchasing e-bikes, e-scooters or batteries and remember our key safety advice:
Storage – Try to store e-bikes and e-scooters outside in a garage or shed, if you have to keep them indoors make sure you store them away from escape routes, do not block any exits.
Charging – Don’t overcharge or charge the vehicle unattended or while you sleep.
Overheating - Batteries can be damaged by dropping them or crashing e-bikes or e-scooters. Where the battery is damaged, it can overheat and catch fire without warning. Check your battery regularly for any signs of damage.
Overloading - Do not overload socket outlets or use inappropriate extension leads.
Trusted Seller – Buy from a reputable seller – products bought from online marketplaces may not meet UK Safety Standards and may have hidden damage.
Escape plan - Preparing and practising a plan of action will help you act quickly if there is a fire in your home - it could even save your life. Make sure you have working smoke alarms and in the event of an e-bike, e-scooter, or lithium-ion battery fire – do not attempt to extinguish the fire. Get out, stay out, call 999.
Register - Register your product with the manufacturer to validate any warranties – batteries are usually included in warranties. Registering makes it easier for manufacturers to contact you in the event of safety or recall information.
For further advice around e-bikes and e-scooters please visit: https://www.esfrs.org/guide-to-fire-safety-for-e-bikes-and-e-scooters
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.