Warning after lithium-ion battery fire at a home in Winsford

Fire crews from Winsford and Northwich were called to Thomas Drive just after 5.15pm following reports of a vehicle on fire on a driveway between two houses. Upon arrival, firefighters found both a car and a shed well alight, with flames threatening the roof of a two-storey home.

Crews quickly tackled the blaze using a hose reel and began damping down the smouldering remains of the car and shed. A neighbouring house had to be ventilated due to heavy smoke logging, and crews discovered heat damage to window frames and fascia boards.

Beth Proctor, the occupier of the affected property, was inside at the time with her son and her partner Callum’s son.

“It all happened so quickly,” said Beth. “We just got the boys and the dog out and Callum alerted all our neighbours while we waited for the firefighters to arrive.

“Callum had just put his electric bike in the shed. The bike was broken and had been transported home in the back of his car, when he heard the battery pop and fizz, and the next minute it started smoking and caught fire.”

An investigation into the fire was carried out by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager Marc Beechey, who confirmed the most likely cause was the lithium-ion battery from the electric bike.

“These batteries can pose a real risk, so they need to be stored and handled responsibly.” said Station Manager Beechey. “The casing houses multiple smaller batteries, which can overheat and trigger a chemical reaction that causes a fire or explosion. I urge anyone using lithium-powered devices to ensure batteries are charged and stored correctly and never used if they’re damaged or have been dropped. If a battery starts making strange noises or catches fire, do what Callum did and do not go near it. Get away and call 999 for the fire and rescue service.”

Beth added: “We still can’t believe what happened. I’ve always heard not to leave batteries charging unattended, but this one wasn’t even on charge. Firefighters think it may have just become overheated in the car as it was warm. It’s certainly made us think so I now want to tell everyone else to be careful with them — I’m just thankful Callum put it down the moment he heard the noises. I dread to think what could have happened otherwise.”

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service continues to raise awareness of the potential risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and encourages the public to follow safety guidance to avoid incidents like this. Visit Electric bikes and scooters for more storage and usage advice around lithium-ion batteries.