The fire damaged a small portion of a three-roomed first-floor flat in a three-story building with a shop and dwellings above. Before the Brigade arrived, four adults and three children left the property. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued a woman and child suffering from smoke inhalation and transported them to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
The fire is thought to have been caused by a faulty lithium-ion battery in an e-bike.
It’s extremely concerning that we are continuing to see an increase in incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters,” said a spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade.
“When these batteries and chargers fail, they do so with ferocity and because the fires develop so rapidly the situation can quickly become incredibly serious.
“Lithium-ion batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used and there is a significant risk posed by e-scooters which have been converted.
“We are predominantly seeing fires where batteries have been purchased from online marketplaces and when they’ve been sourced on the internet, which may not meet the correct safety standards.
Our advice is to store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or a garage, and if they have to be stored inside, make sure there is smoke detection fitted and your means of escape is not obstructed.
“However, we know this won’t be possible for everyone, so if you are charging them indoors, please follow our advice on safe charging and ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire.
“We would also advise people not to charge them while they are sleeping so that if an issue arises, they can respond quickly.”
The Fire Brigade was called at 1.33pm, and the fire was out by 2.46pm. Firefighters from Forest Hill, Lewisham, and Lee Green were dispatched to the scene.
