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Video: Dubai residents put out fire at pharmacy after e-bike battery explodes

The incident took place at around 1.30pm on Sunday

Published: Sun 10 Mar 2024, 2:03 PM

Updated: Mon 11 Mar 2024, 1:00 PM

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An e-bike battery erupted into flames while charging, sparking a fire outside Life Pharmacy in Business Bay.

Eyewitnesses attributed the blaze to a probable short circuit caused by the dampness of the power socket outside the pharmacy. "There were a few loud bangs and the next thing you see is fire licking the glass exterior of the pharmacy," recounted a cafeteria worker who, alongside vigilant passersby, helped douse the flames. "We hastily removed the e-bike else it would have gutted," he added.

Watch the video below:

A security guard at Escape Tower where the pharmacy is located confirmed the fire was caused by the battery explosion.

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The incident occurred at 1.30 pm and the fire was quickly brought under control.

While many e-bikes and e-scooters are considered safe, the infiltration of faulty batteries and other hardware, such as chargers, poses a risk of ignition in some products.

The cause behind e-bike fires can be attributed to both chemical and practical factors. Chemically, lithium-ion cells undergo a phenomenon called thermal runaway, leading to a sudden surge in battery cell temperature and pressure, coupled with the emission of flammable gas. The ignition of this gas due to the battery's elevated temperature results in a rapid fire that is challenging to extinguish and emits toxic fumes.

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