Durham flats evacuated after mobility scooter bursts into flames amid warnings of electrical charging risk
by Owen Younger · ChronicleLiveA block of flats in Durham had to be evacuated after a mobility scooter burst into flames, amid warnings around electrical charging.
The fire, which took place in October 2022 at a believe housing block of flats, caused damage worth £10,000 to repair, but luckily nobody was seriously hurt.
The scooter was being charged using an extension lead trailed from a second-floor bedroom, with the resultant fire spreading along the building’s exterior, producing thick smoke on the ground floor, triggering alarms and prompting a full evacuation.
Several elderly residents were treated for smoke inhalation and shock, and fire investigators concluded that the blaze started because of the age and poor condition of the extension lead, which melted and caused the mobility scooter to ignite.
In a bid to raise awareness and prevent similar incidents, a North East housing association, believe housing, has released details of the blaze during its third annual Electrical Safety Week.
Nik Welsh, Executive Director of Communities and Customer Services at believe housing, said: "It is vital that people store and charge EVs, e-bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters safely and always follow the manufacturer’s advice.
"Failure to do so could lead to a fire and put lives and their home at risk. We have experienced this and, tragically, there have been significant and fatal incidents in other parts of the country.
"We desperately want to prevent this happening again so are urging customers to stay safe and follow our safety advice and that of device manufacturers."
During Electrical Safety Week, believe housing is sharing potentially lifesaving tips to help customers avoid accidents, including:
- Avoid charging phones in bed while sleeping or they can overheat and start a fire, and ensure children follow this advice.
- Do not overload power sockets and extension leads – a typical four-plug extension should not exceed 13 amps.
- Only use qualified electricians for electrical work – customers of believe housing should check its home improvement guide to see what is allowed.
More advice can be found on believe housing’s website here.
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