Ten staff members were rushed to hospital after a fire broke out at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) headquarters in Eastleigh. The blaze started just before 4pm on Monday at the fleet maintenance centre on Leigh Road, which is shared with Hampshire Constabulary.
Firefighters traced the source of the fire to a lithium-ion battery inside a service vehicle at the fleet centre. In response, South Central Ambulance Service quickly deployed a paramedic team leader, three ambulances, and their Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.
A HIWFRS spokesperson said: “Fast acting fleet maintenance staff immediately called 999 and crews from Eastleigh and St Mary’s fire stations were mobilised to the incident. While their brave actions helped contain the blaze, we urge everyone to call 999 and wait outside rather than tackling fires themselves.”
“Ten people were exposed to smoke, treated at the scene for inhalation, then taken to hospital as a precaution. All were released later the same evening. The incident will be investigated according to organisational procedures.”
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has raised concerns over the increasing dangers posed by lithium-ion battery fires. Official data shows there have been 211 fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes in 2024 so far, compared to just 26 in 2020.
The FBU warns that such fires release flammable gases and can lead to dangerous explosions. They also link the rise in these incidents to an increase in wildfires and flood rescues driven by climate change.
In light of the growing risk from lithium battery fires, the FBU is calling for urgent funding boosts and public awareness campaigns to prevent further disasters.
Originally published by UKNIP.
