Battery safety warning after e-scooter fire

Crews have issued safety advice after an electric scooter caught fire in Dovercourt.

Firefighters were called to Chaffinch Drive today at 12.55pm and found an e-scooter alight.

Crews extinguished the fire and made sure the e-scooter was completely cool by 1.22pm. 

Station Manager Jason Gould said: "The owner was fixing the rear mud guard and accidentally damaged the battery pack, which started to spark and cause small explosions before catching fire.

"The owner was able to move the scooter outside and call 999, and our crew was quickly on the scene.

"The incident highlights the hazards of lithium battery packs, which are used in most e-scooters. If the batteries are damaged there is a risk they will catch fire, so please check your battery regularly."

E-scooter safety advice

• Buy your e-scooter from a reputable retailer and follow the manufacturer's guidance on charging and storing
• Store your e-scooter outside and away from escape routes
• Always charge it during the day when you are at home
• Do not over-charge it – once it is fully charged, unplug it and turn the charger off
• Register it at registermyappliance
• Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures
• Check your battery regularly. If it gets damaged it could catch fire

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

We are recruiting on-call firefighters at Dovercourt Fire Station. If you live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station, you could be an on-call firefighter and attend incidents in your community.

Find out more about the role at essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call