Firefighters have issued an e-bike safety warning after a blaze in a flat in Deptford this weekend.
The brigade said the fire on Sterling Gardens in the early hours Sunday morning March 19, is believed to have been caused by a fault with an e-bike lithium-ion battery.
A communal entrance hall of the three-storey residential building was completely destroyed by the fire, and a small part of a three roomed flat on the ground floor was also damaged by the blaze.
One man was treated on scene by the fire crews and taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service.
Ten firefighters from Deptford and New Cross stations raced to the scene after being called at 4.50am and had the blaze under control in less than an hour by 5.31am.
On that occasion firefighters used a nine-metre ladder to rescue a man from a second-floor window on Sunday morning, March 12, and said a further four people left the property on Deptford High Street before the Brigade arrived.
Thankfully there were no reports of any injuries. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said at the time “the fire was discovered by a resident who heard loud popping noises and saw their e-bike alight in the kitchen.”
Issuing their warning London Fire Brigade said: “It’s incredibly concerning we are continuing to see a rise in incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
“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-bikes which have been converted.
“We are predominantly seeing fires where batteries have been purchased from online marketplaces. When they’ve been sourced on the internet, they 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 suggest people try not to charge them when they are asleep, so that if there is an issue they can react quickly.”