A fire at Brunel House in Portsmouth, Hampshire, was put out on February 13, 2026, after an electric bike battery caught fire. The fire started on the 10th floor of the high-rise building on The Hard at around 1:40 am while the battery was charging in a hallway.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the building’s automatic sprinkler system turned on immediately. This contained the fire and smoke, allowing fire crews from Southsea, Cosham, Portchester, and Fareham to put out the blaze quickly when they arrived.
Four people were treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics at the scene, but they were all released without needing to go to the hospital. Hundreds of residents, including students and private renters, had to leave the building and wait at a temporary rest centre until about 4:00 am.
Brunel House is a former Ministry of Defence office building that was turned into 500 student rooms and nearly 200 private flats a few years ago. While the sprinklers saved the building from major fire damage, several of these flats were damaged by water from the system.
Fire officials have urged residents to only use battery chargers approved by the manufacturer and to never leave bikes charging in escape routes. They noted that these types of battery fires are becoming more common in buildings with many homes across the country.
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