Feb 19 β€’ 06:49 UTC πŸ‡©πŸ‡° Denmark DR Nyheder

Bicycle battery caught fire at college: 'When we arrived, a couple of hundred people were almost without clothes'

A bicycle battery exploded and caught fire at a college in southwestern Copenhagen, prompting an evacuation of hundreds of people due to smoke spread.

In the early hours, police responded to an incident at a college in southwestern Copenhagen where an electric bicycle battery had exploded, leading to a significant fire. The fire produced a large amount of smoke, prompting the college administration to take immediate action to evacuate the premises to ensure the safety of the residents. According to watch chief Dyre SΓΈnnicksen from the Copenhagen Police, when emergency responders arrived, they found a couple of hundred individuals standing outside, many of whom were nearly undressed due to the urgency of the evacuation.

Nearby, the Scandic Hotel opened its doors to provide warmth and shelter to those evacuated from the college. Fortunately, only one individual required hospital treatment due to smoke inhalation, while others were evaluated on-site for any potential health issues resulting from the incident. The swift action from both the college's administration and local emergency services likely mitigated what could have been a more serious situation.

This incident raises important questions about fire safety related to electric bicycle batteries, which have been increasingly common. As electric bikes gain popularity, incidents of battery fires could lead to calls for stricter safety regulations and guidelines both for manufacturers and users to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This case not only highlights the immediate dangers but also the importance of community support in emergency evacuations.

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