In the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht, the battery of an electric scooter exploded on Sunday night, after which the scooter caught fire. The device was in a basement that was not equipped with a smoke detector.
The Brussels fire service was called to a basement fire at around 02:00 for a basement fire in the Rue Abbé Cuylits in Anderlecht, said spokesperson Walter Derieuw.
"Arriving at the scene, the resident had brought out a burning e-scooter from the basement," he said. "Smoke from the fire had spread into the building and the residents had been evacuated. We extinguished the scooter, but the battery continued to heat up, and we placed the scooter in a 1m³ container of water to cool down permanently."
The battery was charging in the basement which was not equipped with a smoke detector, Derieuw explained. "Fortunately, the residents were woken up by a detonation of the battery. The family, parents and two children were transferred to hospital for observation. After ventilation and a CO check, the house remains habitable."
Shortly before, at around 00:50, firefighters had already had to extinguish a fire in a flat on Avenue de Jette in the municipality of Ganshoren. There were no injuries, but the flat is uninhabitable. "The cause was accidental, but there was no smoke detector there either," said another fire brigade spokesperson.
At the end of February, the outgoing Brussels Government launched another prevention and awareness campaign to encourage the Capital Region's residents to install smoke detectors in their homes. While this is required by law, it still happens too infrequently.
No smoke detectors
Through the website rookmelders.brussels, citizens can find out all they need to know about the usefulness of a smoke detector, as well as learn more about the technical specifications and requirements for smoke detectors.
Smoke detectors must comply with European standards and work through an integrated battery with a ten-year shelf life. "They must be of the optical type, labelled EN 14604," said Derieuw. "They must be placed on the evacuation route, and must be tested and dusted regularly."
The fire service also offers some tips on how to safely charge batteries at home. "Buy a decent device, follow the manufacturer's instructions, use only the original charger, or buy only attributes from well-known manufacturers. It is also best to let appliances cool down completely after prolonged or heavy use, and always put the battery near a smoke detector, in a fire-safe area and out of reach of flammable materials."
Derieuw added that it is best to not place the battery in direct sunlight or on a heating system, but instead in a dry place with a stable temperature.
"Supervise during charging, and unplug the battery or battery pack when it is full. Charging at night is strongly discouraged. If you have had a collision with the scooter or electric bike or dropped the battery, or it got wet, check it for damage and always have it checked by a specialist."
