Firefighters are urging Londoners to follow crucial safety advice when charging and storing e-bikes, following a serious fire in a flat above a shop on Whitechapel Road in Whitechapel on Saturday morning.
“One of the residents opened a bedroom door to find thick smoke inside, which we know from lithium battery fires is extremely toxic,” he added.
Safety Advice from the London Fire Brigade
Station Commander Jackson reminded e-bike and e-scooter owners to:
- Avoid charging batteries while sleeping or leaving them unattended.
- Only use the correct charger and never overcharge the battery.
- Keep e-bikes and e-scooters away from escape routes like hallways or doorways.
- Store them outside or in a secure, enclosed space like a shed, where possible.
- Ensure conversions are done professionally and avoid purchasing batteries or kits from unregulated online marketplaces.
The London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe campaign, launched in 2023, continues to raise awareness of the dangers posed by e-bike and e-scooter fires. Firefighters will be out in the Whitechapel area next week engaging with riders — including gig-economy delivery drivers — to provide safety guidance and tips.
Swift Response
The London Fire Brigade received 13 emergency calls about the blaze, which was reported at 8:04am. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Bethnal Green and Dowgate stations attended the scene. The fire was brought under control by 9:16am.
A Growing Concern
The incident adds to a growing number of e-bike-related fires across the capital. With e-bikes and e-scooters becoming more popular, particularly among delivery workers, fire officials are calling for tighter regulation of lithium-ion battery products sold online.
