- Cleveland Fire Brigade successfully secured a £5,000 grant.
- The Brigade supports the national work on reducing fire incidents involving lithium-ion batteries and chargers.
- One of many UK projects supported by grants from Electrical Safety First.
Cleveland Fire Cadets in Middlesbrough and Redcar are at the forefront of a new initiative which aims to raise awareness of the potential dangers of lithium batteries used to power electric scooters and bikes.
Fires involving lithium batteries are a national growing risk. Lithium battery fires can spread quickly out of control, and within minutes have the ability to start a large fire which could result in extensive damage to property, injuries and tragically, fatalities.
Now, supported by funding from leading UK charity Electrical Safety First, Cleveland Fire Brigade is delivering a series of community workshops to help educate users about the importance of safe storing, charging, and buying e-scooters and e-bikes from reputable retailers.
Helen Winskill, Commissioned Services Manager at Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Training & Administration Hub, says: “The Fire Cadets will create educational workshops for local community groups who traditionally use products with lithium-ion batteries, such as older people with mobility scooters in supported living and young people at youth clubs with e-scooters.”
The content of the workshops draws on key messaging from Electrical Safety First’s recent “Don’t be Electricked” and “Battery Breakdown” campaigns, with the funding coming from the organisation’s Electrical Safety Fund.
The fund is a major annual grant scheme which helps those most vulnerable to electrical injuries in their homes, providing £250,000 shared between dozens of local community projects across the UK that aim to reduce domestic electrical risks.
Around half of all domestic fires in the UK are caused by electricity, with most of those arising from electrical products.
Samuel Terry, Policy and Research Manager at Electrical Safety First, says: “Electrical safety risks have been exacerbated in recent years by several wider factors, including the cost-of-living crisis, rocketing inflation, and rising energy prices.”
“We are delighted to be funding projects that seek to keep people safe in their homes, with a focus on tackling risks associated with electrical products, increasing the public’s awareness of electrical safety, and promoting changes in behaviour.”
