E-bike users warned of indoor charging dangers
E-bike and e-scooter users have been warned about the dangers of charging them indoors and unattended.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) issued the reminder after being called out to a number of incidents involving them, including a house fire.
The lithium-ion batteries used in the devices store a "significant amount of energy" and can cause fires if they get overheated, the fire service said.
Graham Kewley, from DWFRS, said improper use can cause "an explosive force".
E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming increasingly popular, and with that, comes an increased concern, Mr Kewley said.
"Locally while we have not seen high numbers, we are seeing an increase, and the reason for this warning now is we saw two incidents over last weekend alone involving e-bike batteries, one of which caused significant damage to a property," he added.
Owners are being urged to make sure they have working smoke alarms, and to consider the installation of heat alarms where charging points are located in a garage or kitchen.
They are also reminded to only charge batteries while they are awake and alert, so they can quickly respond to a fire, should one occur.
"One of the concerns that we have is that those batteries, if they are not stored correctly, if they are not charged correctly or if they are used when they have been damaged, the energy is then released in an uncontrolled way," Mr Kewley added.
"That obviously has the potential to cause an explosive force and significant fires when that energy is released."
