Urgent warning as housefire started by direct sunlight

The fire service has issued a warning after a house fire was started by direct sunlight. It said 'even as we experience the change in the seasons, days like today can see us experiencing strong sunlight'

An urgent alert has been sounded after a house fire was sparked by direct sunlight. Firefighters have warned that as the seasons shift, direct and magnified sunlight can pose a serious risk for fires and safety.

The cautionary note comes in the wake of an incident where a hairband caught fire after direct sunlight shone through a glass lamp. As we transition from summer to autumn, and then into winter, days can still be very sunny despite the chilly temperatures.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident, which could have easily escalated into a catastrophe if the fire had gone unnoticed. Leominster Fire Station, who issued the warning, urged people to "please be aware of what damage magnified sunlight can do and consider what is the way of direct sunlight".

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They also highlighted the danger bright sunlight poses to motorists. In a Facebook post, the fire service wrote: "Today, our crew attended a fire in a domestic property that was started by direct sunlight."

"Even as we experience the change in the seasons, days like today can see us experiencing strong sunlight. The pictures below show a glass lamp that magnified the sunlight, causing a hair band on a bedside table to ignite."

"Please be aware of what damage magnified sunlight can do and consider what is in the way of direct sunlight. Also consider the effects of bright sunlight when driving at certain times of the day, and make use of sun visors and sunglasses if necessary."

An e-scooter with a faulty battery has been blamed for a catastrophic fire that devastated seven homes, leading to the evacuation of nine adults and four children who returned to find "utter devastation". The blaze broke out in a three-storey property in Gosport, Hampshire, last week, rapidly spreading across a row of houses by leaping from roof to roof, reports the Mirror.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service responded to the emergency, battling the flames throughout the night with 10 fire engines and 60 firefighters at the peak of the incident. A spokesperson for the service confirmed that initial investigations point to an e-scooter as the likely cause of the fire.

Following the incident, firefighters have issued a stark warning to owners of such scooters to prevent future fires. The spokesperson stated: "The initial reports and the preliminary fire investigation has found that an e-scooter is the most likely cause of the fire."

They also highlighted the risks associated with charging e-bikes and e-scooters, especially when left unattended or charged overnight, saying: "The main danger occurs when e-bikes and e-scooters are left on charge and unattended in homes or in communal areas such as hallways and stairwells. Charging lithium batteries indoors increases the fire risk, especially if charged overnight when occupants are sleeping."