Firefighters are renewing their efforts to warn Londoners about the dangers of e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium batteries following three severe fires in three separate parts of London in one week.
All three fires are believed to have been caused by the catastrophic failures of lithium batteries for an e-bike. The incidents are yet another example of why the Brigade has been running its #ChargeSafe campaign, with e-bikes and e-scooters becoming one of the capital’s fastest-growing fire risks.
The first fire happened at a semi-detached house in Mitcham at around 8am prompting 26 calls to the Brigade’s 999 Control officers. Sadly, the whole house was destroyed in the blaze, as well as a car parked outside in front of the property. Fortunately, two women and four men escaped without injury but were left with just the belongings they had on them at the time.
At the weekend a fire in Bethnal Green started on the third floor a block of flats and quickly spread to flats on the fourth and fifth floors. Fire investigators believe the fire was caused by an e-bike. They found two different sized batteries with one charger and an e-bike in the third floor flat where the fire started. Four people and a dog were rescued from the building by firefighters, one was rescued via a ladder, another was carried down by firefighters and two were rescued using fire escape hoods. One woman was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service for smoke inhalation. The flat was left inhabitable.
This week an e-bike fire in Walthamstow gutted a ground floor flat. The owner bought the converted e-bike from an online marketplace a month ago. It was on charge in the living room when the occupants heard a popping noise before toxic fumes were released and it burst into flames. Mr Shereyar Khan said he is lucky that he and his son were awake when the fire happened. He said: “I’m so glad my wife and two older sons were not at the flat at the time of the fire. I’m also so thankful that my son and I escaped unharmed and that the firefighters came so quickly. We had a very lucky escape!”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Richard Field, said: “It cannot be underestimated the level of destruction each of these fires have caused with three homes completely damaged by fire and smoke. It’s extremely fortunate that no one has been seriously hurt.
“In all three cases, these fires were caused by catastrophic battery failures. When these batteries fail, they can cause ferocious fires, and the consequences can be devastating. We urge people who own these devices to follow the safety advice that will help to protect those around them and their properties.
“We want to urgently remind e-bike owners that using mismatched batteries and chargers, especially incompatible or counterfeit ones, can cause serious fires such as the one in Bethnal Green. If the wrong charger is used it can lead to the battery overheating, failing, and starting a fire in seconds.
“We recommend devices are never left charging unattended. At the Walthamstow fire, the owner was on hand to react when the charging battery burst into flames. If the fire had happened when the occupants were asleep it could have been a very different story.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Field continued: “E-bikes and e-scooters are a green and sustainable way to travel around our city. However, they can pose a significant fire risk, if not properly cared for, this is particularly true for the batteries used to power them which have become one of London's fastest-growing fire risks."
The number of e-bike and e-scooter fires in a single year in London could be the highest yet. This year has seen an average of around 18 e-bike or e-scooter fires a month. If the trend continues for the rest of the year, London will surpass 200 incidents in a single year for the first time.
Four people have died in fires caused by e-bike battery failures in London since 2023 and more than 100 people have been hurt.
Safety tips for e-bike and e-scooter users to follow
- Never block your escape route with anything, including e-bikes and e-scooters. Store them somewhere away from a main through route. Our advice is to store these items in a safe external location if possible, such as a garage or a shed.
- Always use the correct charger and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
- Do not attempt to modify or tamper with your battery. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be very dangerous. They pose a higher risk of fire. Get a professional to carry out the conversion and make sure to buy a battery from a reputable seller and that it is not second-hand.
- Check your battery and charger meets UK safety standards. We have particular concern where batteries have been purchased from online marketplaces and when they've been sourced on the internet, which may not meet the correct safety standards.
- Watch out for signs that the battery or charger aren’t working as they should – e.g. if the battery is hot to the touch or has changed shape.
- Let the battery cool before charging. Batteries can get warm during their use and it is advisable to allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge as they could be more susceptible to failure if overheated. If you are charging batteries indoors, please follow our advice on safe charging.
- Unplug your charger once it’s finished charging. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions when charging and we would advise not to leave it unattended or while people are asleep.
- Fit alarms where you charge. Ensure you have smoke alarms fitted in areas where e-bikes or e-scooters are being charged and make sure they are tested regularly. You can quickly and easily check your home by visiting our free online home fire safety checker tool