websocket.io pending, RAM usage build up, progressive slowdown

Windows 11, Node 25.6.1, Gulp 5.0.1, BrowserSync 3.0.4 BrowserSync starts normally and works.

Accessing management UI at localhost:3001 never finishes loading, because 2 fetch requests are stuck pending.

The UI of 3001 itself works but the tab's loading icon spins forever and those requests never end.

It also builds up RAM usage of Node process over time and CSS injection gets progressively slower with time.