The Brussels Fire Brigade has warned people to take precautions when charging batteries after a plugged-in hoverboard battery caught fire in the Brussels municipality of Schaerbeek.
Firefighters were called to a fire on Rue Rogier in Schaerbeek on Saturday morning at around 05:15. Upon arrival, the family that had called in the emergency were waiting outside for the fire brigade. They informed firefighters that the fire had been caused by the battery of a hoverboard, which was charging on a landing.
"The residents had already taken the device outside," spokesperson Walter Derieuw. "Fortunately, no injuries occurred." The fire brigade remained at the property for some time to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.
In light of the incident, Derieuw shared several tips for charging batteries safely at home to avoid fires occurring, with the first pointer starting with the battery itself. "Buy good quality equipment, not just from some foreign website. The investment is worth it to avoid later incidents," he said.
He also called on people to follow the manufacturer's usage instructions, and to only use the original charger supplied with the device (or to buy one from well-known manufacturers). Allowing devices to cool down after prolonged or intensive use and not placing them in direct sunlight or on a heating system, but in a dry place with a stable temperature, will also help prevent incidents.
While charging, batteries should always be supervised, Derieuw noted. "Charging at night in a residential home is strongly discouraged." He added that batteries should be unplugged when they are full. "Finally, if you dropped the battery, always have it checked by a specialist."
