An accidental fire broke out in a Margate bedroom on Tuesday evening after a battery pack overheated and caught light. The blaze quickly spread to bedding that had been placed on top of the device while it was left on charge.
Two fire engines were dispatched to the property in Richmond Avenue. Crews successfully extinguished the fire using a high-pressure hose reel jet and subsequently used a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the property of smoke. Fortunately, the occupants were alerted by a working smoke alarm and managed to escape the building safely.
Following the incident, crews are reminding the public to always use the original charger that came with a device, or to ensure any alternative charger is purchased from a reputable supplier. Items should never be left charging unsupervised or overnight, and they should always be kept uncovered in a well-ventilated area to prevent overheating. Additionally, devices should be disconnected from the charger as soon as they are fully charged, and households are urged to ensure they have an adequate number of working smoke alarms installed and tested regularly.