May 8th 2024.
A devastating incident occurred last November, resulting in the complete destruction of a family's home in Brighton, East Sussex. Hannah Boyd, a 37-year-old mother of three, was preparing dinner when she heard a loud beeping noise coming from upstairs. Little did she know, it was the sound of their smoke alarm going off due to a fire that broke out in her son's bedroom.
Hannah and her husband, Calum, quickly sprang into action and evacuated their home along with their children. Despite the fire department arriving within six minutes, the fire had already engulfed their son's entire bedroom and had spread to other areas of the house. The cause of this tragic incident was a result of an overcharged vape battery that was left plugged into a chain of extension cables.
Hannah is now sharing her story to raise awareness about the importance of safe battery charging. She recalls the terrifying moment when her husband discovered the fire and immediately yelled for everyone to evacuate. If it weren't for his quick thinking to shut the door, the fire could have spread throughout the entire house. The family was left in shock and devastation as they watched their home go up in flames.
The fire was so intense that it melted the smoke alarm outside of their son's bedroom and destroyed precious family heirlooms and gifts. The family had to temporarily stay with friends for two weeks and in a hotel for a month before being given a new permanent home. Unfortunately, they did not have contents insurance to cover the damages.
According to West Sussex Fire & Rescue, the cause of the fire was an overcharged vape battery. They warn that rechargeable devices containing lithium-ion batteries, such as vapes, can pose a serious fire hazard if left charging for too long. This can result in an uncontrollable event called thermal runaway, which produces highly toxic and flammable vapors before catching fire.
To prevent such incidents from happening, it is important to charge electronic devices on a flat and stable surface, away from any flammable materials. It is also advised to never leave them charging unattended or overnight, and to unplug the charger once the device is fully charged. Furthermore, overloading an extension lead with too many appliances or chargers can also lead to a potential fire hazard.
The fire department also reminds us to only use one socket extension lead per socket and to never plug one extension lead into another. These precautions may seem trivial, but they can make a huge difference in preventing a fire from breaking out in your home.
Hannah and her family hope that by sharing their story, they can raise awareness and prevent similar incidents from happening to others. They urge everyone to take caution and follow these safety measures when charging electronic devices to avoid any potential fire hazards. Let's all learn from their experience and keep our homes and loved ones safe.
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