Investigation reveals cause of fire on Scotch Street, Whitehaven

At 1:32pm on Saturday December 3, four fire engines from Whitehaven, Workington and Seascale attended a domestic property fire on Scotch Street, Whitehaven.

Firefighters brought the fire under control and were on scene for two hours.

Two casualties suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital for further care.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s fire investigators have determined the blaze was accidental and caused by the failure of an e-bike’s lithium-ion battery.

Angela Opie, Cumbria FRS’s Group Manager for Prevention said: “It’s incredibly concerning that we are continuing to see a rise in incidents involving e-scooters and e-bikes.

"When these batteries and chargers fail, they do so with ferocity and because the fires develop so rapidly the situation can quickly become incredibly serious.

The inside of the home following the fire (Image: Cumbria Fire and Rescue)

“These items are often stored in communal areas and corridors and can block people’s only means of escape.

"Our advice is to try and store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or garage, and if they have to be stored inside, make sure there is smoke detection fitted and your means of escape is not obstructed.

“However we know this won’t be possible for everyone, so if you are charging them indoors, please follow our advice on using safe charging and ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire.

"Make sure they are charged in a room where there is smoke detection and on a hard, flat surface.

“We would also suggest people try not to charge them when they are asleep, so that if there is an issue they can react quickly.”

Emergency services at the scene of the fire (Image: Tom Kay)

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service have advised people who own e-bikes and e-scooters to take note of the following safety advice:

• Always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
• Allow batteries to cool down before attempting to re-charge as they could be more susceptible to failure.
• Batteries should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate.
• Make sure you unplug your charger once it’s finished charging.
• Ensure you have smoke alarms fitted in areas where e-bikes or e-scooters are being charged and make sure they are tested regularly.
• Never block your escape route with anything, including bikes and scooters.

READ NEXT: Tributes paid to teacher from St James' Catholic Primary School Millom

READ MORE: Emergency services attend house fire on Scotch Street in Whitehaven