Dublin Fire Brigade shared a photo of the fire-damaged vehicle as they warned people of the dangers of over-charging them and parking them in doorways
20:43, 06 Jul 2026Updated 20:50, 06 Jul 2026
Dublin Fire Brigade Instagram
Dublin Fire Brigade have issued a warning after an e-scooter caused a fire.
A fire-risk can be posed by the lithium-ion batteries used in the devices. These lightweight batteries are safe when used correctly, but pose a fire risk when overcharged, short-circuited, submerged in water or damaged.
Lithium-ion batteries generate their own oxygen when ablaze and the fire can rapidly intensify. These e-scooter batteries may also undergo “thermal runaway” which is an extremely dangerous self-accelerating chain reaction where the battery experiences a massive, uncontrolled increase in temperature.
If this happens, it’s incredibly difficult to put out the fire and domestic firefighting extinguishers won’t be effective.
Dublin Fire Brigade posted a photo of an e-scooter which had been over-charged, causing a fire. They warned that e-scooters should never be charged in a doorway or escape passage.
“Got an electric bicycle or scooter? Never leave a battery charging unattended” they said.
“Never charge in a doorway or escape passage. Batteries on fire will experience a ‘Thermal Runaway’ which requires 100’s of litres per minute of water to control.”
If your e-scooter, e-bike or hoverboard starts behaving oddly, this could indicate that the battery is damaged and needs replacing. If you notice a burning smell, hear popping or hissing sounds, see smoke, gas release or flames, evacuate the premises immediately. The fumes are extremely toxic and can be fatal if inhaled.
If your e-scooter, e-bike or hoverboard catches fire, you should:
- Safely unplug the charger if possible.
- Shut the door to the room or flat where the fire is. This will help contain the smoke and fire, giving you and others time to escape.
- Immediately evacuate the home by shouting or, in a block of flats, by pressing the fire alarm break-glass unit.
- When safe, dial 999 or 112 and inform the call-taker that an e-scooter or e-bicycle is involved.
- Under no circumstances re-enter the building!
- Meet the firefighters upon their arrival, explain the location of the fire and that an e-scooter or e-bike is involved.
When purchasing an e-bike, e-scooter or hoverboard, it’s crucial to choose a trustworthy retailer.
If you opt to buy one online from an unknown company, you might be jeopardising your consumer rights and warranty. Even worse, you could be putting your safety at risk as the product may not meet the required safety standards.
When selecting an e-scooter, e-bicycle or hoverboard, you should:
- Ensure it has a genuine CE mark – you can find information on identifying genuine CE marks on the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s website.
- Examine the packaging for traceable information, such as the manufacturer’s name and contact details.
- Return the product if the instruction manual is missing, not in English or contains spelling/grammar errors.
- Get second-hand devices inspected by a reputable technician as you won’t know its history.
For more information, see Dublin Fire Brigade’s advice page for e-scooters and e-bikes.
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