A flat in the Brussels district of Neder-Over-Heembeek has been declared uninhabitable after a fire broke out when the battery of an electric scooter exploded. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
It was on Wednesday evening at around 9.45pm that Brussels fire- fighters were called to a fire at a flat in the Brussels district of Neder-Over-Heembeek. Thick smoke accompanied the blaze.
‘The fire was caused by the explosion of the battery of an electric scooter,’ explains Walter Derieuw of the Brussels fire brigade. ‘The scooter was stored in a laundry room. The resident heard the explosion. Fortunately, because the smoke detectors in the flat, and the detection system in shared areas of the building were both not working.’
The flat has been declared uninhabitable; relatives have taken in the resident.
The Brussels fire brigade has reiterated its warning against charging electric batteries at home and offers some tips:
Follow the manufacturer's operating instructions.
Only use the original charger supplied with the device.
Allow appliances to cool down after prolonged or intensive use.
Always place the battery near a smoke detector.
Do not place the battery in direct sunlight or on a heating system.
Monitor progress during charging. We do not recommend charging your battery overnight.
Unplug when the battery is full.
If you drop the battery, check it for damage and have it checked by a specialist.