Garden shed explodes after e-bike battery catches fire
This is the dramatic moment a garden shed exploded after an e-bike was left on charge overnight.
Shocking footage shows flames engulfing the wooden shed following the blast at the home.
The e-bike had been left charging overnight when its lithium-ion battery exploded - sending flames shooting into the garden.
Fire bosses and council chiefs have now issued a warning urging people to take care when buying and using e-bikes and e-scooters this Christmas. Experts say overnight charging can lead to to overcharging and overheating and advised shoppers to only buy from reputable sellers. Other advice includes avoiding charging these items near exits and escape routes of your home.
Councillor Dawn Justice, cabinet member for communities and public health at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “This serious incident is an example of why we’re giving this safety advice at a time where we know many of you may be looking to purchase an e-bike or e-scooter.
“Buying from reputable sellers and making sure products have either the CE or UKCA mark is the best way to make sure you’re buying a genuine and safe product, and without these markings, you cannot be sure that your new e-bike or e-scooter is safe for use. Our trading standards team cannot emphasise enough that these products, which contain lithium-ion batteries, should be handled and used with care. Making any modifications to them only increases the risk of fire and it is not worth the risk.”
The fire happened in April in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire and Nottinghamshire County Council has now shared the footage as part of a safety campaign.
Richard Leighton, group manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Lithium-ion batteries can be extremely dangerous if they are damaged, charged incorrectly, or used with incompatible chargers. We see the devastating impacts these fires can have, and in many cases, they leave homes completely destroyed and put lives at serious risk.
“Our advice is to only buy e-scooters and e-bikes from reputable retailers, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and never leave them unattended or charging overnight. Taking these precautions could prevent a catastrophic fire and save lives, and we will continue to do all we can with our partners to ensure incidents like this don’t happen.”