Bedroom blaze sparks battery charge warning

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said the residents were alerted by their smoke alarm and managed to escape unharmed

Firefighters have warned people to unplug their devices when fully charged following a blaze in a bedroom.

Crews were called to a flat on Gladstone Street in Millfield, Peterborough, at about 14:00 BST last Thursday.

They believed a lithium-ion battery in a tablet overheated while left charging, which caused it to set alight.

Station commander Gareth Boyd said Cambridgeshire's fire service had already attended more battery-related fires in the home this year than the 20 that took place in 2024.

In the aftermath of the blaze, the charging cable could still be seen plugged into the remains of the melted tablet

The service said people should put portable devices on a solid surface when charging and leave them uncovered, to prevent batteries getting too hot.

Mr Boyd said: "Most devices come with safety features to ensure they do not overheat when being charged correctly.

"Using the charging packs, cables and plugs provided by the manufacturers, rather than cheaper versions, will help charge devices safely.

"If you need to purchase a replacement battery or charger then make sure they are fully compatible charging to the correct volts/amps."