Flat fire - Willesden

Firefighters are sharing their tips for charging devices safely after a fire at a house converted into flats on Chichele Road in Willesden.

A one roomed flat on the first floor was completely destroyed by fire.

Four adults and one child were rescued by crews from a first floor roof and led to safety via a short extension ladder. They were suffering from smoke inhalation and treated on scene by London Ambulance Service (LAS). One man evacuated before the Brigade arrived and was suffering from smoke inhalation and burns and was taken to hospital by LAS.

The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was accidental and caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery charger for an electric scooter.

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 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 0313 and the fire was under control by 0526. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Willesden, West Hampstead, North Kensington and Hendon fire stations were at 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. There are lots of fakes out there, and it can be difficult to spot the difference.
• 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.
• 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.