Sewer workers extinguish garage fire caused by e-bike battery

Two workers from a sewer-cleaning company, helped by residents and a firefighter, extinguished a garage fire in Hof bei Straden in southeastern Styria, ORF reports. The fire was caused by a defective e-bike battery.

The fire broke out shortly before noon on Thursday in the garage of a single-family home. The battery caught fire without outside influence and was not being charged. Police believe the flames then spread to a shelf holding several spray cans.

The heat caused the spray cans to explode, with such force that part of the garage door was torn from its guide rails. The blast alerted the residents, who went to investigate and discovered the fire.

While they attempted to put out the flames, a truck from a sewer-cleaning company happened to pass the house. Two workers used the truck’s built-in water tank and a hose to extinguish the fire before the fire brigade arrived. A firefighter who was also passing by assisted them. Their actions prevented the fire from spreading to the roof.

No one was injured, but the damage is expected to amount to tens of thousands of euros. Two motorcycles and two e-bikes stored in the garage were partly or completely destroyed, and most of the garage was gutted.