E-bike charging causes house fire
Crews have issued safety advice after an electric bike left on charge overnight caused a fire.
We were called to a flat in Derry Avenue, South Ockendon today at 4.08am.
Two crews from Grays attended and found a fire in the lounge of a two-storey property.
Crew Manager Scott Gregory said: "The occupant had left an electric bike on charge and either the bike caught fire or the batteries exploded.
"Please don't leave items charging overnight or unattended, and make sure you use chargers supplied by the manufacturer.
"Thankfully there were working smoke alarms which alerted the couple and they got out safely and called 999.
"Crews quickly extinguished the fire and rescued a dog, which was unharmed.
"Fortunately, fire damage was limited to the lounge, although the entire property was affected by smoke damage."
Crews fully extinguished the fire by 4.40am.
The incident highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms: they will alert you to the first sign of fire and give everyone time to get out safely and call 999.
If you or someone you know needs smoke alarms, arrange a home safety visit by calling 0300 303 0088 or visiting our Smoke Alarms page.
Charging advice
Charging electrical items can cause a real danger in your home. Please follow this safety advice:
- Don’t leave items on charge or plugged in overnight or while you are out of the house
- Never leave chargers plugged in and turned on when they are not in use
- Avoid leaving items on charge for long periods
- Only use the charger supplied by the manufacturer
- Look out for the CE mark that indicates chargers comply with European Safety standards
