Firefighters have issued another e-bike safety warning after a fire at a flat above a shop on Wapping Lane in Wapping.
Most of a three-roomed flat on the first floor was damaged by fire. A man, a woman and a child left the building before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took 20 calls to the blaze.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the failure of a lithium-ion cell from an e-bike battery pack.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The fire was discovered by a resident who could smell burning and found a large fire in the bedroom. The residents left the flat by climbing out of a window onto the fire escape and called 999.
"As this incident shows, you should never block your escape route with anything, including bikes and scooters. Store them somewhere away from a main through route.
"Our advice is to try and store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or garage. However we know this won’t be possible for everyone, so if you are charging them indoors, please follow our advice on using safe charging and ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire.
“Make sure they are charged in a room where there is smoke detection and on a hard, flat surface.
“We would also suggest people try not to charge them when they are asleep, so that if there is an issue they can react quickly.”
The Brigade was called at 1703 and the fire was under control by 1826. Fire crews from Shadwell, Dowgate, Dockhead and Shoreditch fire stations attended the scene.