The aftermath of the fire in Sheffield (Picture: South Yorkshire Fire)
A family’s entire life has been lost in a fire at their home in South Yorkshire, caused by a faulty e-bike battery.
People were seen fleeing the house on Ecclesall Road, in Sheffield, on Sunday at about 11.30am.
All five residents managed to escape. But three were taken to hospital for wounds sustained after jumping out of the first floor window.
Flames quickly took hold of the property after an ‘explosion’ was heard inside, as recalled by neighbours.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the flames, but nothing was left of the house.
Its charred now lay in ruins, a tragic aftermath of the fire believed to have been caused by an electrical fault involving a lithium scooter battery charger.
It is a miracle all members of the family survived the fire (Picture: South Yorkshire Fire)
Pictures shared by the fire service show bore scorched walls and broken windows, revealing the havoc within.
Moving through the property, the remnants of a staircase can be seen, all melted and blackened.
All personal belongings and furniture are destroyed, turned into nothing more but ashes.
Only the skeletal of the home is left, now with ceilings sunken and drenched from the water used to put out the flames.
Only the skeletal of the home is left (Picture: South Yorkshire Fire)
Firefighters posted evidence of the aftermath to raise awareness of the fire risk posed by lithium ion batteries.
Ade Parkin, group manager at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: ‘The people involved in these incidents are lucky to have escaped without serious injury.
‘We know that e-bikes and e-scooters are growing in popularity and can be really beneficial in opening up cycling to people of all fitness levels, not to mention the obvious environmental benefits they bring in terms of reduced carbon emissions compared to other means of transport.
‘That is why it is so important to only buy bikes from reputable supplier that show clearly that they meet UK/EU safety laws and only use the charger supplied with the battery.’
Fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters are a growing risk for South Yorkshire as 15 involving lithium ion batteries were recorded in 2023.
This is almost double the number that occurred in 2022.
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