Hotel fire – Teddington

Firefighters are sharing their top tips for charging devices, after a hotel fire on Station Road in Teddington.

Part of an electric bicycle was damaged by fire. Around 40 people left the building before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.

The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery pack that was on charge.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The fire was discovered when the occupant heard a loud bang and saw a small fire around the battery pack for an electric bicycle that was on charge at the end of the bed.

“Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged and charge them safely.

“Unplug devices once they have finished charging and make sure you use the right charger for your device.”

The Brigade was called at 0823 and the fire was under control by 0850. Two fire engines and around 10 firefighters from Twickenham Fire Station attended the scene.

Firefighters' tips for charging your devices

• Always use the charger that came with your electrical item
• If you need to buy a replacement, always choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust. 
• Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
• Protect batteries against being damaged – that's crushed, punctured or immersed in water.
• Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete – it's best not to leave your phone plugged in overnight for example.
• Never cover chargers or charging devices – that includes using your laptop power lead in bed.