- E-bike charging likely cause of fatal Cambridge apartment fire, warns fire department
- Fire department urges caution in charging e-bike batteries to prevent accidents
- Firefighters prevent spread of fire in Cambridge apartment, investigation ongoing
The fire department cautions individuals not to charge the battery of an e-bike or e-scooter overnight or for any longer than necessary.
The Cambridge apartment fire that killed a woman and two children was most likely caused by a charging electric bicycle, according to the fire department.
Friday morning, the apartment in Sackville Close was consumed by fire.
31-year-old Gemma Germeney died at the scene, while Lilly Peden, eight, and Oliver Peden, four, were rescued by firefighters but subsequently died in the hospital.
Sunday, police reported that a man in his 30s was in critical condition and remained hospitalized.
After investigating the cause of the weekend fatal fire, a spokesman for the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service stated that it “started accidentally and the most likely cause was an electric bicycle.”
Area Commander Stuart Smith stated, “A fire investigation seeks the most likely cause, and in this instance, we believe that to be a charging electric bicycle.”
Mr. Smith urged e-bike owners to “be aware of the potential dangers” posed by the cycles and to “take simple precautions” to reduce the possibility of the batteries overheating.
The fire department advised against charging the battery of an e-bike or e-scooter overnight and against leaving it charging for longer than necessary.
Mr. Smith added, “We also know that regardless of the cause, tragic events like this make people consider fire safety at home in general, and our fire safety team will be in the Sackville Close neighborhood over the next few days to offer advice and reassurance.”
In the early hours of Friday morning, more than thirty firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent homes.
