12 hours ago
Four die in apartment block e-scooter fire
Credit: X/@LevyGuillaume, @nexta_tv
Four people have died in a fire started by an electric scooter in an apartment block in France.
Authorities described the fire that tore through the 10-storey housing block in Reims, 80 miles north-east of Paris, as 'extremely violent' and akin to a 'scene of war'.
The blaze was so fierce that it took dozens of firefighters several hours to bring under control.
The victims were two teenage boys who lived with their family in the fourth-floor flat where the scooter was being stored, and an elderly woman and her son who lived on the top floor.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight on Friday morning. The cause is believed to be an electric scooter that was being stored between a freezer and a washing machine.
One of the residents of the flat was a 13-year-old boy, who died when he jumped from the window to escape the fire. The charred remains of his 15-year-old brother were found in the flat.
The boys' stepfather survived but suffered serious burns.
On the top floor, an 87-year-old woman and her 59-year-old son died from smoke inhalation.
'The first responders described a scene of war, literally, as the building's residents were fleeing the scene in disarray,' said François Schneider, the Reims public prosecutor, on Saturday.
Lithium batteries that power e-scooters can catch fire if they have been improperly manufactured, overheat or are damaged.
It took 62 firefighters more than three hours to extinguish the blaze, said Mr Schneider.
'Fires caused by this type of battery…are extremely difficult to extinguish, since the cells tend to self-sustain when they burn, which explains the violence and speed with which the fire spreads,' he added.
One resident of the block, named only as Faïza, told a local radio station she and her family narrowly escaped after hearing screams and seeing smoke everywhere. She said they had to leave everything behind as they fled.
'The flames took over the building so quickly, we didn't have time. We went downstairs and went straight out with the children,' she said.
Faiza said she was friends with the mother of the two boys who died, who was away on a visit to French Guiana with her newborn baby girl.
She added that she had seen the body of the boy who jumped lying on the ground.
'His feet were broken. He was burned,' she said.
'His eyes were closed. I could see that he no longer felt the pain. You could see that he was no longer there. He wasn't moving, he wasn't speaking, his eyes were closed.'
Since January, battery-powered electric scooters have caused at least 50 fires across France.
The number of related fires has increased sixfold in France between 2017-2024, according to French insurer Maif.
Fire safety experts remind users to follow manufacturer guidelines and to never overcharge devices, nor to charge them unattended while sleeping or away from home.
Batteries should also be charged far from heat sources and emergency exits. Batteries showing signs of swelling, leaking, or any other defects should be replaced immediately.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
