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Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service have stated that with the rising popularity of e-scooters and e-bikes, it has come with many fire safety concerns associated with their charging and storage.
A spokesperson from the fire crew said: “Lithium-ion batteries, similar to the technology in our mobile phones, are used to power many of these new modes of urban transport.
“If these and associated charging equipment are substandard, damaged or misused then there is a risk of the batteries overheating.
“This may lead to an unusually intense fire that can give off toxic gases and large amounts of smoke with very little prior warning.”
In July a fire tore through a house in Slough, with the initial reports indicating that a lithium-ion battery from an e-bike had caused the blaze.
The fire took crews four hours and 10 minutes to put out, with a crew stationed at the scene afterwards to ensure it was safe.
Fire crews reported that the first-floor loft conversion and a roof of a detached property were well alight when they got to the scene.
Earlier fires in December 2022 were also put down to bike chargers.
In Reading a block of flats were woken by an explosion caused by a recently purchased e-bike charger from a popular seller.
The e-bike had been left on charge overnight in the hallway of a flat and the family, along with several other occupants of the building, had to be evacuated.
Just a week later in Slough, fire crews were called to a home in Slough after an e-scooter had caught fire in a ground floor bedroom resulting in the evacuation of three people, with a casualty treated for smoke inhalation and potential burns to their airways.
Now, new data by the consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First discovered 60 listings on popular online marketplaces failed to meet UK safety standards.
Investigators took items off online marketplaces, such as Amazon, eBay, Wish and AliExpress as part of the investigation, with the majority being deemed “highly dangerous”.
A spokesperson from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “It is important when charging e-bikes and e-scooters, you do so safely to avoid a risk of a fire starting and putting your families and homes at risk.
“In the event of an e-bike, e-scooter or lithium-ion battery fire, do not attempt to put it out. Get out, stay out and call 999.
“To help protect yourselves and others from the dangers of e-bike, e-scooter or lithium-ion fires, please follow this guidance.”
The fire service advises the public to avoid charging e-bikes and e-scooters indoors and to charge batteries when awake and alert.
Only approved manufacturer chargers should be used and the battery should be checked regularly for damage.
