FIREFIGHTERS have warned people to be on their guard when charging powerful items like hoverboards after one caught fire in a Dawlish home.

On their Facebook page Dawlish Firefighters report: ‘Crews from Dawlish and Teignmouth were called to a fire in the living room of a domestic property.

‘On arrival, the fire was out and the property owners had evacuated. Teignmouth were stood down.

‘The cause, was a hoverboard on charge.

‘The battery had caught fire whilst charging and had started burning the carpet.

‘The house had filled with smoke and the residents had switched the power off and got out.

‘The owners were alerted by the smoke, not a smoke alarm. There was no alarm in the room that it was charging in.

‘Luckily, in this instance the owners will only need a new carpet.

‘Please remember, when charging powerful items like a hoverboard; charge them separately from a socket (not an extension or a multi-plug) and do not leave them unattended.’