An elderly gentleman has passed away in a residential fire suspected to have been ignited by an e-scooter.
The fire department received a call to attend a semi-detached property in Chorlton, Greater Manchester, around 3 a.m. today. There, they discovered a ‘significant, well-developed fire’.
The flames escalated through the ground and first floor of the dwelling, and while utilizing breathing apparatus, firefighters unfortunately located the body of a man in his 70s inside.
Another individual, in his thirties, had successfully exited the building before the arrival of the firefighters and was transported to Wythenshawe Hospital.
The fire was put out by 7 am, approximately four hours after the fire department was summoned to the location.
Law enforcement is now probing the source of the blaze, with forensic professionals and a restricted area in place, but the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service indicate that the fire ‘is believed to have included an e-scooter’.
One neighbour was awakened by an individual sprinting up and down the street while shouting – and feared that a disturbance had erupted in their vicinity.
The neighbour informed The Sun: ‘We frequently experience burglaries in this area and individuals intoxicated from imbibing in Chorlton.’
‘We speculated that someone had been stabbed or perhaps a burglar had been injured or trapped in a garden.
‘The reality of the situation only became apparent to us when we glimpsed the flashing blue lights.’
Fire department chief Ben Levy stated: ‘Above all, our sympathies go out to the family and acquaintances of the gentleman who tragically perished in this calamitous occurrence.
‘Crews are still on Ellesmere Road South and are available to assist anyone in the community affected by the fire and to offer comfort.’
‘I want to commend the firefighters who laboured diligently in very adverse conditions in an endeavour to rescue lives and prevent the fire from spreading further.’
‘They toiled tirelessly to mitigate the repercussions of this fire for neighbouring residents.
‘At this juncture, we are unable to verify the precise cause of the fire.’
Fire and rescue services have expressed concerns nationwide regarding the safety of e-bike and e-scooters, particularly their batteries and chargers, as several fatalities have occurred in fires suspected to have been ignited by the devices.
Scott Peden recounted the dreadful moment when he realized he had lost his entire family – his partner, their two children, pet dogs, and their home – to an e-bike inferno.
Individuals who possess an e-bike or e-scooter are advised to ensure that any lithium-ion batteries or chargers they purchase conform to UK electrical safety standards and ideally procure them from reputable vendors rather than online marketplaces or social media platforms.
