Five people, including a child, have been treated for smoke inhalation following a fire in a high-rise building believed to have been caused by a converted e-bike.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported that the fire broke out at an 18-floor block of flats on Great Church Lane in Hammersmith, west London, on Thursday night. The incident led to three adults suffering from smoke inhalation being led to safety from the fifth and sixth floors. They were subsequently taken to the hospital by the London Ambulance Service (LAS). Additionally, a woman and child suffering from smoke inhalation were treated at the scene.
The LFB stated that they were called to the scene at 8.42pm, and the fire was brought under control by 10.30pm. Five fire engines and around 30 firefighters from Kensington, Fulham, Chiswick, and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
In a statement, LFB confirmed that half of an e-bike on the fifth floor was damaged by fire. They believe the blaze was caused by “the failure of a battery pack on a converted e-bike that was charging.”
An LFB spokesperson highlighted that e-bikes and e-scooters “are London’s fastest-growing fire risk” and recommended several safety measures:
- Avoid converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online, as they “can be very dangerous” and “pose a higher risk of fire.
- Use a professional or competent person to carry out any bike conversion and buy a new battery, not a second-hand one, from a reputable seller.
- Use the correct charger, do not over-charge the battery, and “never charge an e-bike or e-scooter unattended or when you’re sleeping.
- Do not charge e-bikes on an escape route, such as in a hallway.
