Nottingham family issue e-bike safety warning after charger caused house fire
They can pose a serious fire risk if charged incorrectly.
A family in Bilborough, Nottingham are urging others to be cautious after a fire broke out in their home causing significant damage.
They had purchased a second-hand electric bike via Facebook Marketplace, which was left charging overnight in their kitchen using the incorrect charger on Thursday 14 August.
The battery caught fire while charging, and set fire to the house.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in everyday items such as e-bikes, e-scooters, laptops, mobile phones, and e-cigarettes.
While generally safe, they can pose a serious fire risk if damaged, charged incorrectly, or paired with incompatible equipment.
A spokesperson from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue said: “We are seeing an increased number of incidents relating to lithium-ion batteries, especially as they are in items we use daily.
“We would like to remind people to only use the correct chargers, never buy second-hand or unsafe batteries online, and never leave items charging overnight or unattended.