Family escaped through window as e-bike caused fire

The fire service said the battery fire blocked the main escape route out of the house

A fire that forced three people to flee a house through a window was caused by an e-bike battery, the fire service has said.

Two Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the semi-detached property in Harbury Close, Drakelow, Derbyshire, at 01:47 GMT on Tuesday.

An adult and two children escaped through a first-floor window after flames blocked the stairs.

A fire service spokesperson said smoke alarms had alerted the occupants and added that e-bikes and scooters should not be charged overnight.

Station manager Barclay Masterson said: "Without working smoke alarms, the outcome could have been very different, as this was a severe fire that put those within the property at significant risk.

"Lithium-ion batteries power our everyday lives, and it is devastating to see the extensive damage caused on this occasion by one used to power an e-bike.

"The battery cells used in e-bikes and e-scooters can cause rapid fire development, while producing large volumes of toxic smoke and flammable gases.

"It is vital to follow the manufacturer's instructions and store e-bikes and e-scooters appropriately within your property so that, in the event of a fire, the risk of harm to those inside is significantly reduced and their escape route is not blocked."