A warning has been issued to Oxfordshire residents following a rise in fires involving batteries.
Oxfordshire Fire and Recue Service said it is "starting to see an increase in fires that involve lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries".
An incident on Monday, April 7, saw Wantage Fire Station crews tackle a lithium polymer battery fire.
The batteries, which powered a robot, overheated while charging in a garage.
A neighbour spotted smoke and alerted the residents, who called the fire service.
Watch Manager David Long said: "This fire could have been a lot more serious if the neighbour had not been passing and spotted the smoke.
"We would like to remind everyone of the importance of smoke/heat alarms, particularly in areas where batteries are being charged."
The fire service offers a range of suggestions for reducing the chance of fires at home.
These include fitting smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, planning an escape in case there is a fire, and never leaving cooking unattended.
It also recommends storing and charging e-bikes and e-scooters safely, clearing exit routes, not overloading electrical sockets, and being careful with flames including candles, tea lights, matches, and cigarettes.
It said it attends "countless" homes across Oxfordshire each year, but many of these call outs could be avoided with "better planning" and "slight changes" to people's lives.
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