This incident captures the alarming moment a family’s £50,000 Mercedes ignited into flames on their property.
Stunning video footage depicts the upscale EQA model erupting just mere feet from the front door of Scott and Georgina Bayliss.
The fire was so severe that it ignited the garage and resulted in smoke harm to the front bedroom, leading to a substantial response from firefighters in Spratton, Northamptonshire, on September 30.
The couple’s son James, aged 17, raised the alarm around 9:15 PM after noticing the flames.
Scott, 47, expressed confusion about the origin of the fire that consumed their car while it was charging.
The father of two said, ‘We were watching television when suddenly there was a popping sound. My son presumed someone was setting off fireworks, but then there was a deafening bang akin to a bomb detonating. Flames were everywhere.’
Scott remarked on the ‘intensity’ of the fire as being ‘terrifying beyond comprehension’ as it enveloped both the vehicle and the front of their residence.
The family successfully evacuated the premises as Scott attempted to extinguish the flames using a hosepipe.
One potential explanation is that the vehicle, purchased in 2022, entered a ‘thermal runaway,’ a condition where the battery overheats uncontrollably and cannot cool down.
Scott, who is employed in food manufacturing, added, ‘We aren’t sure exactly what transpired, but based on our understanding and the footage, it appears the car experienced some form of thermal runaway.’
‘It exploded 20 seconds after entering that thermal runaway. You can observe some vapor at the back of the car, followed by the explosion. The following hours were sheer chaos.’
An initial evaluation indicated the vehicle was in ‘such a terrible condition’ that it was difficult to determine the cause of the explosion.
Scott further stated, ‘This is a subjective perspective, but it feels like a battery fire for all intents and purposes. How many other Mercedes around the globe are in close proximity to similar fires?’
The vehicle had been stationary for ten hours prior to exploding.
Georgina, 49, commented, ‘We are fortunate to have escaped unscathed, for our house to remain intact, and to be here together. Upon seeing the flames, we swiftly grabbed the puppies and dashed out the back door.’
The couple have reached out to Mercedes, seeking clarification.
Scott mentioned, ‘Initially, it seemed that Mercedes was not taking me seriously. There wasn’t much more than a promise of ‘we’ll investigate,’ lacking any acknowledgment of the human aspect, the risk to my family, and the damage to our property.’
‘They have extended an offer for a loan car. However, to be honest, I am not inclined to sit in a Mercedes again. No senior official has contacted me to discuss this matter. You would expect more engagement from them.’
A representative from Mercedes-Benz UK stated: ‘We were saddened to hear about the incident. Upon receiving notification from Mr. Bayliss, we regarded it with utmost seriousness and promptly reached out to his vehicle’s insurer to arrange for an investigation and examination of the automobile.’
‘We received updates today and will coordinate a joint inspection soon. Until that occurs, please understand we cannot comment further. In the meantime, we have provided Mr. Bayliss a loan vehicle as a goodwill gesture.’
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