Horrific images show the aftermath of a house fire caused by a faulty e-scooter battery.
South Wales Fire and Rescue (SWFR) were called to the fire in Newbridge, Caerphilly, South Wales, with multiple crews at the scene.
The fire caused severe damage to the living room and kitchen as well as smoke damage in all the bedrooms.
The homeowners and their four dogs managed to escape the blaze but returned to find their home gutted and burnt to a crisp.
Pictures of the aftermath were released by the fire service to warn others of the damage lithium-ion batteries can cause.
Two members of the South Wales fire service walk among the remains of a house in Newbridge
The house was completely gutted from the fire caused by an e-scooter battery
The homeowners and their four dogs managed to escape the blaze but returned to find their home burnt to a crisp
A statement from the fire service said: ‘Thankfully, the residents and their four dogs escaped the blaze unharmed.’
The fire service is now urging people to learn more about e-bike and e-scooter safety due to the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
Electric bikes and scooters are more popular than ever, and with the increased use, SWFR is warning about the damage they can cause when they overheat.
The fire service said: ‘When lithium-ion batteries are damaged, they can overheat, catch on fire, and even lead to explosions. When fires occur, they burn very hot and can be difficult for our firefighters to extinguish.
‘It is important when charging e-bikes and e-scooters that it is done safely to avoid the risk of a fire starting.
‘It’s not just about charging, it’s where you buy the e-bike / e-scooter from, where you store it, and what you do if there’s any damage or you need to dispose of it.’
South Wales Fire and Rescue released the images to show people the danger lithium-ion batteries can pose
Stock image of an e-scooter. There has been a rise of fires caused by batteries
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, commented: ‘The issues surrounding e-bike and e-scooter battery fires are complex and need to be tackled by all levels of government and industry.
‘Whilst we are aware the Government has commissioned research to better understand the issue, speed is of vital importance in order to avoid further deaths.
‘Preventing substandard and dangerous batteries from entering the market in the first place will significantly reduce the risk to the public.
‘So we are urging the Government to adopt our Bill which is being tabled in Parliament later this year by Yvonne Fovargue MP.
‘The Bill will introduce third-party certification for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries, reducing the risk of unsafe batteries entering the market.
‘At present manufacturers can self-declare their batteries are safe, our Bill would end this.
‘Third-party certification has now been adopted by New York City and is already in place in the UK for other high-risk products such as fireworks and heavy machinery.
‘The fires caused when these batteries fail are unique in their ferocity and can have devastating consequences. We urge the Government to back our Bill in order to help us to avoid further loss of life.’
It comes after the Government issued guidance on e-bike and e-scooter safety last month following a spate of horrific fires.
It also advises to only buy an e-cycle or scooter from a reputable seller and includes guidance on how to properly dispose of batteries.
There has been a surge of fires related to e-batteries including one blaze last year started by a charging e-bike that killed a mother and her two young children.
Gemma Germeney, 31, and her children Lilly, eight, and Oliver Peden, four, died after the blaze at the family’s two-storey maisonette.
The children’s father and Ms Germeney’s partner, Scott Peden, survived but was admitted to hospital in a critical condition.
Last year, London Fire Brigade started a Charge Safe campaign to educate people on how to safely charge lithium batteries commonly used in e-bikes and e-scooters and reduce the number of fires.
Gemma Germeney (left), 31, her daughter Lilly Peden (bottom right), eight, and her son Oliver Peden (bottom left), four, were all killed a fire started by a charging e-bike. Scott Peden (back-right), Ms Germeney’s partner, survived the blaze but was admitted to hospital in a critical condition
Fires that involve lithium batteries can spread rapidly and produce a toxic vapour.
Products sold which do not meet UK safety standards have been found to be more at risk of exploding and catching fire.
There were 150 e-bike fires and 28 e-scooter fires recorded between the start of last year and December 15.
This was 53% higher than the figure for the whole of 2022.
The new guidance includes information of what to look out for and warning signs of an electrical fire.
It also reminds the public that e-scooters can only be used on the roads legally if they are part of an official rental trial.
Private e-scooters are not permitted to be legally ridden on roads or pavements in the UK, but are a common sight, particularly in urban areas.