Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters were called to a factory fire on Homerton High Street in Hackney.
Part of the second floor of the three storey property was damaged by the fire. Around 30 people left the property before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, used a thermal imaging camera to help them locate the fire in order to put it out.
The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was accidental and caused by a fault occurring within a drone battery charging point which emitted sparks and ignited combustible materials in the storeroom below.
Firefighter safety tips for charging your devices:
- Always use the charger that came with your phone, tablet, e-cigarette or mobile device.
- If you need to buy a replacement, always choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust. There are lots of fakes out there, and it can be difficult to spot the difference.
- Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
- Protect batteries against being damaged – that's crushed, punctured or immersed in water.
- Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete – it's best not to leave your phone plugged in overnight for example.
- Never cover chargers or charging devices – that includes using your laptop power lead in bed.
- When you travel, avoid keeping all your items containing lithium ion batteries together, especially on a plane. Check with your flight carrier for additional information or advice.
- Don't overload your sockets – learn more about how much is too much on the fuses and power load page.
The Brigade was called at 2151 and the fire was under control by 2259. Fire crews from Homerton and Bethnal Green fire stations attended the scene.
