Ten Rushed to Hospital After Fire Tears Through Fire HQ
Ten staff 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 erupted just before 4pm on Monday at the fleet maintenance centre on Leigh Road, shared with Hampshire Constabulary.
Battery Blaze Ignites Vehicle at Fleet Centre
Firefighters traced the blaze to a lithium-ion battery inside a service vehicle. South Central Ambulance Service sprang into action, sending a paramedic team leader, three ambulances, and their Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.
Quick-Thinking Staff Contain Fire, Warn Public
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."
Fire Union Sounds Alarm Over Lithium Battery Dangers
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has called for urgent funding boosts amid soaring fire risks from lithium-ion batteries.
- Official data reveals 211 fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes in 2024 so far—up from just 26 in 2020.
- The FBU warns such fires unleash flammable gases and can cause dangerous explosions.
- They also link this rise to more wildfires and flood rescues caused by climate change.
With lithium battery fires on the rise, the FBU demands urgent investment and public awareness campaigns before more disasters strike.
