House fire sparked by direct sunlight leads to urgent safety warning from fire station

The fire service has issued an urgent warning after a housefire was started by direct sunlight - luckily no injuries were reported in the incident

A fire station has sounded the alarm after responding to a housefire ignited by direct sunlight, signalling a potentially overlooked danger as the seasons shift. The fire service caution comes following an incident where a hairband set alight due to sunlight magnified through a glass lamp—a stark reminder as we transition from summer into the colder months of autumn and winter.

Fortunately, the event did not result in any casualties but could have escalated disastrously if left undetected, reports the Mirror.

Highlighting the risk of fires from magnified sunlight, the fire brigade alerted the public via Facebook: "Today, our crew attended a fire in a domestic property that was started by direct sunlight."

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Leominster Fire Station added, "Even as we experience the change in the seasons, days like today can see us experiencing strong sunlight. The pictures below show a glass lamp that magnified the sunlight, causing a hair band on a bedside table to ignite."

The post continued, urging vigilance: "Please be aware of what damage magnified sunlight can do and consider what is in the way of direct sunlight. Also consider the effects of bright sunlight when driving at certain times of the day, and make use of sun visors and sunglasses if necessary."

It has emerged that an e-scooter with a faulty battery is likely to blame for a catastrophic blaze that saw seven homes gutted, displacing nine adults and four children who faced "utter devastation" upon their return. The fast-moving fire broke out in a three-storey building in Gosport, Hampshire, last week and tragically leapt across a terrace, spreading from roof to roof.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service responded to the emergency, battling the flames throughout the night. It took the combined effort of 60 firefighters and 10 engines to control the inferno at its peak.

Following initial investigations, a spokesperson for the fire service revealed the fire likely originated from an e-scooter's faulty battery. A stern warning has been issued to those who own such scooters, in an effort to prevent future tragedies.

The spokesperson advised: "The initial reports and the preliminary fire investigation has found that an e-scooter is the most likely cause of the fire."

They added: "The main danger occurs when e-bikes and e-scooters are left on charge and unattended in homes or in communal areas such as hallways and stairwells. Charging lithium batteries indoors increases the fire risk, especially if charged overnight when occupants are sleeping."

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