Firefighters are issuing another urgent reminder to Londoners about charging and storing e-bikes and e-scooters safely after multiple people had to be rescued from two separate fires over the bank holiday weekend.
The first fire occurred at a semi-detached house on Middleton Road in Dalston in the early hours of Sunday (9 April). Half of a staircase was damaged by fire. One man was rescued by firefighters from the first floor. He was treated for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service crews. Another person left the house before firefighters arrived.
The second fire took place the following day (10 Apri) on the ground floor of a three-storey house of multiple occupation on Barrow Road in Streatham. Two men were led to safety by firefighters using fire escape hoods via an internal staircase. One woman and three children left the house before crews arrived.
Both fires involved an electric bike or scooter and come as the London Fire Brigade continues its #ChargeSafe campaign, which aims to highlight the fire risks associated with lithium batteries which are commonly used with e-bikes and scooters.
Deputy commissioner Dom Ellis said: “Investigators believe a converted e-bike caught fire at the house in Dalston and we understand the bike’s batteries were purchased online second-hand.
“The bike was on charge at the time and due to where it was being charged, blocked an escape route and a man had to be rescued by our firefighters via a short extension ladder.
“It is vital that you never block your escape route with anything, including e-bikes and e-scooters. And the only way to be sure of a legal, safe and reliable e-bike is to buy one in complete form, from a trusted and reputed retailer.
“Meanwhile, at the incident on Barrow Road, a smoking e-scooter was moved by an occupant from a room to a communal area of the house where the fire then spread.
“Moving the scooter significantly increased the risk to everyone inside the house and reaffirms our advice which is if you suspect there is a fire involving these types vehicles, leave it, shut the door, get out and call 999.”
In 2023, on average, London Fire Brigade has been called to an e-bike or e-scooter fire once every two days – a 60% increase in the rate of these fires compared to the same period as last year.
12 April 2023