Residents evacuated after suspected e-scooter fire

Residents were forced to leave their homes overnight after a house fire thought to have been caused by an e-scooter battery spread to seven neighbouring properties.

The blaze broke out in a three-storey home in Hill Park Road, Gosport, on Wednesday shortly before 21:40 BST.

The fire service said it was most likely started by an e-scooter that was left on charge overnight.

It added two people were treated at the scene and released by the ambulance service.

The roofs of several homes were badly affected

Jenna Robinson set up an online appeal for her best friend whose house was the first involved in the fire.

She said the mother-of-five told her after they fled their home "they all stood by and had to watch the houses burn".

"They have nothing left, everything has gone - she is absolutely devastated," she said.

Ms Robinson says she hopes "the community will rally round" to help those affected.

People living nearby were urged to keep their windows and doors closed due to the large amount of acrid smoke.

People living nearby were urged to keep their windows and doors closed overnight

Hampshire fire service said nine adults and four children were being cared for by the council after having to leave their homes.

At its height, more than 60 firefighters worked to control the fire and put it out, the service added.

Crews remained at the scene with fire investigation officers sent to the homes to establish the cause.

The service issued renewed warnings about safely charging and storing e-scooters.

Station manager Lacey Plumbley, who attended the fire, said: “E-bikes and e-scooters with lithium-ion batteries can catch fire quickly and with little warning.

"Thankfully everyone managed to evacuate the properties safely, but a number of families have seen their homes severely damaged as a result...

“We are urging people to keep an eye on their e-scooter and e-bikes when they are charging them and to think carefully about where they store them.

"Ideally they should be stored outside, but if they have to be stored inside avoid blocking emergency escape routes.”