E-scooter fire in Limerick city residence prompts safety warning

LIMERICK Fire and Rescue Service have issued a safety reminder following an e-scooter fire in a Limerick city residence.

The fire service attended the scene of the fire after it was notified by the Munster Regional Control Centre (MRCC).

The homeowners and their family safely evacuated the building.

In a post on social media, a spokesperson for the fire service said: “Last night our Musgrave St crews were mobilised by MRCC to an e-scooter on fire in a domestic premises in the city.

“Thankfully the homeowners evacuated their family safely from the building and alerted us.”

A picture of a badly charred e-scooter accompanied the post.

The post then shared a link with e-scooter fire safety advice from Fire Ireland.

The website advised that, though Lithium-ion batteries are “generally safe when used properly”, fire can occur if they are overcharged, damaged or faulty, short-circuited, or exposed to water or extreme conditions.

“In some cases, batteries can enter ‘thermal runaway’, where they ignite and burn fiercely, often beyond the control of standard firefighting equipment,” the site explained.

It advised e-scooter users to always buy from a reputable retailer and check that the product carries a genuine CE mark.

The website then explained the Do’s and Do Not’s of charging safely.

Users are advised to charge outside where possible and in a location that does not block escape routes, unplug once fully charged, and supervise charging where possible.

The advice adds to not charge overnight, unattended, or when you are out of the home, to not charge in hallways or near exits, and to not cover the device while charging.