Firefighters are issuing another e-bike safety warning after a flat fire on Osborn Street in Aldgate.
One bedroom and a hallway in a first floor flat of a five-storey building was completely destroyed by the fire. Three people left the property before the Brigade arrived. Two men suffering from smoke inhalation were assessed on scene by the London Ambulance Service.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a fault in an e-bike lithium-ion battery.
Station Commander Paul Jarrett was at the scene, he said: “It’s incredibly concerning we are continuing to see a rise in incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
“When these batteries and chargers fail, they do so with ferocity and because the fires develop so rapidly the situation can quickly become incredibly serious.
“Lithium-ion batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used and there is a significant risk posed by e-scooters which have been converted.
"We are predominantly seeing fires where batteries have been purchased from online marketplaces and when they've been sourced on the internet, which may not meet the correct safety standards.
“Our advice is to store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or a garage, and if they have to be stored inside, make sure there is smoke detection fitted and your means of escape is not obstructed.
“However, we know this won’t be possible for everyone, so if you are charging them indoors, please follow our advice on safe charging and ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire.
“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 1618 and the fire was under control at 1823. Fire crews from Shoreditch, Dowgate, Dockhead and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.