Fire crews attended a house fire after a glass lamp was impacted by direct sunlight, setting fire to a hairband(Image: Leominster Fire Station - Facebook)

Urgent warning as housefire started by direct sunlight as people urged to 'make use of sunglasses'

A fire station has warned people of the dangers of direct sunlight as the seasons continue to change - they also warned of the dangers of bright sunlight when driving

11 Oct 2024, 22:49 by Zasha Whiteway-Wilkinson · The Mirror

An urgent warning has been issued after a housefire was started today by direct sunlight. The fire service warned that as the seasons continued to change, direct and magnified sunlight posed a real danger for fires and safety.

The warning came after a hairband ignited after direct sunlight shone through a glass lamp. It comes as summer turns to autumn, and autumn to winter - which can see days get very sunny despite feeling particularly cold.

Luckily no injuries were reported in the accident, which could have very easily turned into a disaster if the fire hadn't been noticed.

Leominster Fire Station, who issued the warning warned people to "please be aware of what damage magnified sunlight can do and consider what is the way of direct sunlight". They also stressed the danger bright sunlight brought to road users.

In a post on Facebook the fire service wrote: "Today, our crew attended a fire in a domestic property that was started by direct sunlight.

"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.

"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."

The hairband which caught alight( Image: Leominster Fire Station - Facebook)

The sunlight shone directly through the bulb, magnifying the light and causing a fire risk( Image: Leominster Fire Station - Facebook)

It comes after an e-scooter was blamed for a devastating fire that ripped through seven homes, causing nine adults and four children to be evacuated only to return to "utter devastation".

The fire ignited in a three-storey property in Gosport, Hampshire, last week and quickly spread across a terrace by jumping from roof to roof. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene and worked through the night to tackle the blaze, which required 10 engines and 60 firefighters at its height.

Initial reports into the incident found that the blaze was started by an e-scooter with a faulty battery, a spokesman for the service confirmed. Firefighters have now issued a warning to scooter owners as they hope to avoid another incident.

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

"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."