Person rescued from house fire caused by e-bike

Firefighters were called to a house blaze in Leicester that was caused by a charging e-bike.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) said fire crews arrived to find the home in Strathaven Road, in Rushey Mead, "well alight" at about 09:00 BST on Wednesday.

One person in the house had been rescued by a neighbour with a ladder, while other occupants escaped the property via a flat roof before firefighters arrived.

LFRS said the fire started in the front room and quickly spread through the house, leaving it "gutted".

The fire service has since urged people to make sure their homes have working smoke alarms and issued a warning about the risks of charging electrical items.

A spokesperson for LFRS added: "Lithium-ion battery devices like this can be a fire hazard if not used properly, and these include mobile phones, laptops, tablets, video game controllers and e-cigarettes, as well as e-bikes and scooters.

"When charging any of these devices, ensure that they do not block exits, are not left near flammable materials and are not left charging unattended, or overnight while you sleep."

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