FIRE crews have issued safety advice after an electric scooter battery caused a fire at a home in Laindon.

It is the second fire in a week caused by chargers in Basildon.

The alarm was raised in the very early hours of Monday 20 June about a fire in a ground floor flat in Wayletts. Two crews from Basildon attended and found a fire in a bedroom.

Watch Manager Mark Blakebrough said: "An e-scooter battery exploded and set the mattress and bedding alight, which caused the fire to spread very rapidly.

"Thankfully the property had working smoke alarms which alerted the occupants to the fire quickly and crews did a really good job of containing the fire to the bedroom.

"Unfortunately, the bedroom was badly damaged by fire and the rest of the flat had filled with smoke so the flat is uninhabitable.

"The incident shows the dangers of charging or keeping e-scooters inside because lithium batteries can overheat and ignite."

Other residents in the three-storey building had to leave their flats until the fire was fully extinguished and the building was safe, at 1.43am.

Watch Manager Blakebrough said: "I'd like to thank the residents for being so patient and offering their support."

E-scooter safety advice

If you are buying an electric scooter, follow this guidance:

• Buy from a reputable retailer and follow the manufacturer's guidance on charging and storing
• Store your e-scooter outside and away from escape routes
• Always charge during the day when you are at home
• Do not over-charge – once your item is fully charged, disconnect it and turn the charger off
• Always unplug after use
• Register it at registermyappliance
• Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures
• Check your battery regularly. If it gets damaged it could cause a fire