CHARGING BATTERY MAY HAVE CAUSED ASHBY HOUSE FIRE

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said a charging lithium-ion battery may have caused a house fire in North Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Crews arrived shortly after 15:00 BST on Saturday following reports of the blaze. The service suspects an electrical fault involving the battery started the fire. The occupant left the house safely, and nobody was injured, according to the service. Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze.

The fire caused extensive damage to the property, particularly in the kitchen where the battery had been charging, the service said. The service published images of the damage on Facebook. Joe Warren, the service’s community safety station manager, said firefighters were responding to more incidents involving lithium-ion batteries locally and nationally. “These batteries are used in many electrical products, and if they are damaged, defective or charged incorrectly, they can become unsafe,” he said.

Warren recommended buying batteries, devices and chargers from reputable suppliers and using the correct charger for each product. He advised people to avoid leaving batteries charging unattended. He also urged people to keep products away from escape routes while charging or storing them. Warren said people should stop using a battery immediately if it overheats, swells, makes unusual noises, smokes or gives off a strong smell. The service also advised against charging lithium-ion batteries overnight or while away from home.