E-bike was ‘probable cause’ of Sackville Close house fire that saw three people die

An investigation into the fire has concluded (Image: CambridgeshireLive/Cait Findlay) × Group 28 Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you.

We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice An e-bike was the probable cause of an accidental maisonette fire in Sackville Close, according to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Emergency services were called to the fire at 1. 08am on Friday (June 30). Gemma Germeney, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene and her daughter Lilly Peden, eight, and son Oliver Peden, four, were seriously injured in the blaze and died in hospital.

A man neighbours have said is her partner, Scott Peden, remains in hospital in a critical condition. The investigation into the cause of the fatal fire has now concluded. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said: “It is believed that the fire started accidentally and the most probable cause was an e-bike.

” Read next: Cambridge headteacher pays tribute after two pupils die in Sackville Close fire and says school is ‘devastated’ Area Commander Stuart Smith, from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Fire service and specialist fire investigators, together with police forensic teams and a fire dog, have spent the weekend carrying out a thorough investigation of the maisonette. A fire investigation looks for the most probable cause and in this case, we believe that to be an electric bike that was charging. “We know e-bikes and e-scooters are popular modes of personal transport at the moment and we are urging anyone with one to be aware of the potential risks and follow simple precautions to reduce the likelihood of the batteries overheating.

We also know that regardless of the cause, devastating incidents like this make people think about fire safety in general at home and as well as having lots of information on our website, our fire safety team will be in the Sackville Close area over the next few days to share advice and offer reassurance. ” Tributes were left at the scene of the fire (Image: CambridgeshireLive/Cait Findlay) Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue has shared some safety advice for e-bikes and e-scooters. Their advice is: Avoid charging the battery overnight Do not leave charging for any longer than it needs to fully charge Plug the cable into a main socket rather than an extension lead Do not cover the battery with anything while charging Make sure you use the battery recommended by the manufacturer Always use the manufacturer-approved charger for the product, and if you spot any signs of wear and tear or damage buy an official replacement charger for your product from a reputable seller Ensure you have working smoke alarms on every floor of your home and in the room where you charge the bike/scooter Area Commander Smith added: “In the aftermath of Friday’s tragedy, I’d urge everyone to check their home for potential fire risks.

There is an online tool on our website that can be used to highlight areas to think about. “It isn’t just e-bikes and e-scooters, we have so many electrical gadgets these days that all require charging, people just need to be aware of the risks and put steps in place to ensure they are being charged safety. You can also complete the online tool for older or other vulnerable family members too who may not live with you and may have other habits or risk factors that make them vulnerable such as they smoke or have limited mobility which may prevent them from being able to escape if a fire took hold.

“In these cases, our specialist fire prevention officers will visit in person and carry out an assessment. ” Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.

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