Polymer Firebase image upload error

Question

I have my firebase app config as so

<!-- NOT THE REAL VALUES --->
<firebase-app
  auth-domain="<auth domain>"
  database-url="https:DATABASE url"
  api-key="API KEY"
  storageBucket= "thebucket.appspot.com">
</firebase-app>

Each time I try an image upload I get the following error

"Firebase Storage: No default bucket found. Did you set the 'storageBucket' property when initializing the app?"

I dont understand as the storage Bucket property is there.