Battery warning backed by family devastated by fire

A family who lost "everything" in a house fire are supporting a battery safety campaign so others do not have to suffer their trauma.

The fire tore through the home of Chris Pearson, 51, and his daughter Kaitlin, 26, two years ago, destroying two decades of memories.

"I'm constantly turning everything electric off in my house before I go to bed and double, triple-checking before I go to sleep," Kaitlin said. "It's an anxiety I'll never shake off."

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries safely by buying them only from trusted retailers and avoiding charging them overnight.

Chris said he had spent two years rebuilding their Hull home following the fire in November 2024, which started accidentally, but it was "only halfway done".

"It takes a second for a fire to ignite, minutes to engulf your home, and it takes years to rebuild and replace everything," he said.

"You don't think it's going to happen to you. When it does, it never leaves you. You're never going to forget."

Mark Walsh, a fire service station manager, said lithium-ion batteries were not dangerous when used safely.

"People need to make sure they're not charging items excessively – especially not charging them overnight. If there's any sign of damage on a battery then you shouldn't be charging it," he said.

With Christmas on the horizon, he is advising people to ensure they buy rechargeable toys and gadgets from only reputable retailers.

"There are countless gadgets, cuddly toys and lights families might buy that will contain lithium-ion batteries," he said.

"When you're purchasing them, make sure you're purchasing them from a good source and you're using companies that you can recognise."

He is also encouraging people to dispose of batteries correctly.

"We have dealt with numerous incidents over the last few years at waste disposal and recycling sites due to batteries exploding," he added.

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