At 13:32 on Saturday 3 December, four fire engines from Whitehaven, Workington and Seascale attended a domestic property fire on Scotch Street, Whitehaven.
Firefighters brought the fire under control and were on scene for two hours.
Two casualities suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital for further care.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s fire investigators have determined the blaze was accidental and caused by the failure of an e-bike’s lithium-ion battery.
Angela Opie, Cumbria FRS’s Group Manager for Prevention said:
“It’s incredibly concerning that we are continuing to see a rise in incidents involving e-scooters and e-bikes. When these batteries and chargers fail, they do so with ferocity and because the fires develop so rapidly the situation can quickly become incredibly serious.
“These items are often stored in communal areas and corridors and can block people’s only means of escape. Our advice is to try and store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or garage, and if they have to be stored inside, make sure there is smoke detection fitted and your means of escape is not obstructed.
“However we know this won’t be possible for everyone, so if you are charging them indoors, please follow our advice on using safe charging and ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire. Make sure they are charged in a room where there is smoke detection and on a hard, flat surface.
“We would also suggest people try not to charge them when they are asleep, so that if there is an issue they can react quickly.”
E-bike and e-scooter safety advice: