Warehouse fire - Beddington

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a warehouse fire on Greenland Way in Beddington.

Around 50 batteries behind the roller shutter entrance of a two-storey warehouse and industrial unit were damaged by fire. Firefighters removed and cooled two gas cylinders to an ambient temperature as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat. There were no reports of any injuries.

The fire is believed to have been caused by the failure of batteries inside the warehouse.  

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “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 to charge them safely.”

Firefighters’ tips for safe battery use

• 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.
• 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.

The Brigade was called at 0539 and the fire was under control by 0632. Fire crews from Wallington, Norbury and Mitcham fire stations attended the scene.