Firefighters have saved two dogs, two tortoises and a cat from a terrace house in Lundy Close, Eastwood, Southend, earlier today after the homeowner discovered their electric bicycle was ablaze under the stairs.
The incident occurred at 11.06am whilst the electric bicycle was charging in the property.
Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters from Leigh, Rayleigh Weir, and Southend, extinguished the ground floor fire which at the time was beginning to spread upstairs.
Thankfully, the incident was resolved by 12.40pm.
Richard Blakebrough, the Watch Manager for Leigh Fire Station, explained more about the situation.
He said: “Our firefighters did a fantastic job of containing the fire and stopping it spreading any further.
“The fire was caused by the electric bike, which was charging and only a few weeks old.Â
“Although we don’t believe the bike set alight due to mishandling, it’s a good reminder to others when charging e-bikes and e-scooters that you do so safely to avoid a risk of a fire starting and putting your family and home at risk.
“Most importantly, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when charging and always unplug your charger when it’s finished charging.Â
“Make sure you’re home while you’re charging, so if a fire does start you’ll be alerted to it quickly.”