A FAMILY had a lucky escape last night (15) after a house fire in Peplow Close, West Drayton, which involved an electric scooter.

The ground floor of a mid-terrace house was damaged and four people had left the building before the brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued a dog from the first floor.

Investigators believe the fire was accidental and involved a lithium-ion battery for an electric self-balancing scooter, which was on charge at the time.

Hillingdon Station Officer Simon Hall, who was at the scene, said: "One of the occupants was alerted after hearing popping and saw the batteries sparking.

"The scooter was on charge under the stairs in the open-plan living room, so the family was very lucky to get out.

“If it had happened later at night, when they were asleep, the fire could easily have engulfed the staircase. 

"Electric bikes and scooters are often stored and charged in escape routes in homes or communal areas so, when a fire does occur, escape routes are blocked. Please be mindful of where you're storing them.

“It’s important to always use the correct charger and buy an official one from a reputable seller.”

The brigade was called at 9.36pm and the fire was under control an hour later. Two fire engines and around 10 crew from Hillingdon attended.