Maisonette fire – Wood Green

Firefighters are sharing their advice for charging devices safely after a maisonette fire on Newnham Road in Wood Green.

The hallway of an end-of-terrace maisonette from the ground to the first floor and an electric bicycle were destroyed by fire. One person was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.

The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was accidental and caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery fitted to an electric bicycle that was on charge.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The fire was discovered by residents who heard a bang and on investigation they found a well developed fire in the hallway on the ground floor with smoke rising up the stairs. They left the building via a rear door and called the Brigade.  

“Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged and charge them safely.

“Unplug devices once they have finished charging and make sure you use the right charger for your device.”

The Brigade was called at 1726 and the fire was under control by 1747. Two fire engines and around 10 firefighters from Hornsey Fire Station attended the scene.

Firefighters' tips for charging your devices

• Always use the charger that came with your electrical item
• If you need to buy a replacement, always choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust.
• 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.