A serious house fire believed to have been caused by a malfunctioning e-bike battery led to a dramatic rescue operation on Northbrook Road in Ilford yesterday. Ten residents, including a baby, narrowly escaped the blaze that significantly damaged their mid-terraced house.
The fire, which engulfed part of the ground floor, an internal staircase, and most of the first floor, was reported to emergency services just after 10 a.m. Six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters responded to the scene, managing to bring the fire under control by 11:50 a.m.
According to the London Fire Brigade, the incident occurred after a battery attached to an e-bike, stored in the hallway near the front door, failed. This is not an isolated incident; e-bike and e-scooter fires are becoming a growing concern in London, with around 170 fires reported in 2023 alone.
The rescue efforts were dramatic and multi-faceted. Two adults escaped the blaze via a first-floor rear window, and another three adults along with two children were aided by scaffolding that a passing builder rapidly erected, allowing them to escape from another first-floor window. Additionally, a woman jumped from a first-floor window, a baby was safely caught by a member of the public, and a man fled through the front door. Three adults and one child were taken to the hospital, and four other adults along with two more children were treated at the scene.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Field highlighted the dangers of storing e-bikes improperly and the rapid spread of the fire. He emphasized the importance of safe storage and charging practices for e-bikes and e-scooters to prevent such disasters.
This incident has brought renewed attention to the fire risks associated with lithium batteries used in electric vehicles. London Fire Brigade has been actively campaigning for better regulation and awareness with its #ChargeSafe campaign. The recent introduction of the Product Safety & Metrology Bill in the King’s Speech is seen as a crucial step towards enhancing consumer safety and reducing the risks associated with these increasingly popular modes of transport.
London Fire Brigade continues to warn against the dangers of poor-quality batteries, chargers, and conversion kits often sold online, which can fail catastrophically and pose severe safety risks.
