A garden shed was blown apart after an e-bike left charging overnight suddenly exploded.
Shocking footage shows the moment the blast ripped through the outhouse, with flames lighting up the darkness.
It is believed the fire was sparked by the bike’s lithium-ion battery.
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Firefighters from three stations rushed to the scene in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, as the blaze took hold.
Experts warn that damaged or counterfeit batteries have been linked to a growing number of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
A safety warning has now been issued, urging people to buy devices only from reputable retailers, as reported by Need To Know.
Richard Leighton, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Lithium-ion batteries can be extremely dangerous if they are damaged, charged incorrectly, or used with incompatible chargers.
“We see the devastating impacts these fires can have, and in many cases, they leave homes completely destroyed and put lives at serious risk.
“Our advice is to only buy e-scooters and e-bikes from reputable retailers, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and never leave them unattended or charging overnight.
“Taking these precautions could prevent a catastrophic fire and save lives, and we will continue to do all we can with our partners to ensure incidents like this don’t happen.”
Dawn Justice, of Nottinghamshire County Council, said the incident shows why safety advice is so important.
She said: “This serious incident is an example of why we’re giving this safety advice at a time when we know many of you may be looking to purchase an e-bike or e-scooter.
“Buying from reputable sellers and making sure products have either the CE or UKCA mark is the best way to make sure you’re buying a genuine and safe product, and without these markings, you cannot be sure that your new e-bike or e-scooter is safe for use.
“Our trading standards team cannot emphasise enough that these products, which contain lithium-ion batteries, should be handled and used with care.
“Making any modifications to them only increases the risk of fire, a nd it is not worth the risk.”
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