Flat fire - Poplar

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a flat fire on Poplar High Street.

Part of a bedroom in a five-roomed maisonette on the second and third floor of a four-storey residential building was damaged by the fire. Two men were rescued by fire crews via an internal staircase and were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental due to a failure of a lithium battery.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “It’s incredibly concerning we are continuing to see a rise in incidents involving lithium batteries.  

"We are predominantly seeing fires in ones which have been purchased from online marketplaces and batteries which have been sourced on the internet, which may not meet the correct safety standards.  

“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 ay 0435 and the fire was under control at 0514. Fire crews from Poplar, Millwall, Shadwell and Plaistow fire stations were in attendance.

 E-bike and e-scooter safety advice: 

• Always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from 
• a reputable seller. 
• Batteries can get warm during their use, and it is advisable to allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge as they could be more susceptible to failure. 
• Batteries should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate. 
• Batteries can also pose a risk if they have been damaged, so try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as spares as this can increase the chance of damage to cells. 

• You should always make sure you unplug your charger once it’s finished charging. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions when charging and we would advise not to leave it unattended or while people are asleep.