A family in Chandlersford, Hampshire, encountered a frightening experience when their $64,000 Mercedes-Benz EQA caught fire in their driveway on September 30. The blaze quickly spread, damaging their garage and causing smoke issues in their home.
This unsettling incident unfolded while the vehicle was charging, and the exact cause of the fire still remains uncertain. Thankfully, their son, James, alerted everyone in the house before it could escalate further. Fire crews from Eastleigh, Redbridge, and St. Mary swiftly attended the scene after receiving multiple emergency calls.
Scott Bayliss, the father, expressed confusion about how the fire had started, especially since the vehicle was merely being charged at the time. “We were just watching TV when there was this loud pop,” Scott recalled. “At first, my son thought fireworks were going off, but then we realized it was much more serious when a large explosion happened.” The intensity of the flames and their swift expansion was alarming, he noted.
Fortunately, the family was able to evacuate without injury. Scott, however, attempted to extinguish the flames alongside a neighbor while waiting for the firefighters. One possible explanation for the incident could be a “thermal runaway,” a situation where the battery overheats and becomes uncontrollable.
Reflecting on the chaotic scene, Scott described the atmosphere as surreal, noting how the fire dramatically overwhelmed the car and posed a serious threat to their home. A neighbor recounted witnessing the fire and expressed concern about its rapid growth, stating, “I was one of the last to notice; it escalated so quickly.”
