CFRS Announces Conclusion Of Fire Investigation With The Most Probable Cause Of Fire Identified

The investigation into the cause of Friday’s fatal flat fire in Kings Hedges, Cambridge, has now concluded. It is believed that the fire started accidentally and the most probable cause was an e-bike.

Area Commander Stuart Smith, from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Fire service and specialist fire investigators, together with police forensic teams and a fire dog, have spent the weekend carrying out a thorough investigation of the maisonette. A fire investigation looks for the most probable cause and in this case, we believe that to be an electric bike that was charging."

Risks associated with e-bikes and e-scooters

We know e-bikes and e-scooters are popular modes of personal transport at the moment"

Area Commander Stuart Smith adds, "We know e-bikes and e-scooters are popular modes of personal transport at the moment and we are urging anyone with one to be aware of the potential risks and follow simple precautions to reduce the likelihood of the batteries overheating. We also know that regardless of the cause, devastating incidents like this make people think about fire safety in general at home, and as well as having lots of information on our website, our fire safety team will be in the Sackville Close area over the next few days to share advice and offer reassurance."

E-bike and e-scooter safety advice

• Avoid charging the battery overnight
• Do not leave charging for any longer than it needs to fully charge
• Plug the cable into a main socket rather than an extension lead 
• Do not cover the battery with anything while charging 
• Make sure to use the battery recommended by the manufacturer
• Always use the manufacturer-approved charger for the product, and if spot any signs of wear and tear or damage buy an official replacement charger for the product from a reputable seller
• Ensure have working smoke alarms on every floor of the home and in the room where charge the bike/scooter.

General fire safety advice

• Close internal doors at night - have this as part of the bedtime routine 
• Keep stairs clear and keys to external doors and windows in places that are easy to access if need to escape in an emergency
• Ensure everyone in the house knows what to do if a fire breaks out and practice this
• Ensure smoking materials are fully out and don’t smoke when tired 
• Ensure open fires are properly out before go to bed. 

Specialist fire prevention officers

Area Commander Stuart Smith, stated: "In the aftermath of Friday’s tragedy, I’d urge everyone to check their home for potential fire risks. There is an online tool on our website that can be used to highlight areas to think about. It isn’t just e-bikes and e-scooters, we have so many electrical gadgets these days that all require charging, people just need to be aware of the risks and put steps in place to ensure they are being charged safety."

He adds, "You can also complete the online tool for older or other vulnerable family members too who may not live with you and may have other habits or risk factors that make them vulnerable such as they smoke or have limited mobility which may prevent them from being able to escape if a fire took hold. In these cases, our specialist fire prevention officers will visit in person and carry out an assessment.”