Firefighters are reminding Londoners not to store e-scooters and e-bikes in escape routes after a fire on Grove Crescent in Kingston.
Part of a ground floor flat in a four-storey block was damaged by fire. Three people left the building before firefighters arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire is believed to have originated from a charging e-bike.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "The e-bike was being charged in the hallway of the property. The occupants were incredibly lucky to escape unharmed. Had this not been a ground-floor flat, they would have had much greater difficulty escaping the fire, which spread rapidly and produced toxic smoke that should never be inhaled.
"We know just how ferocious and harmful these fires can be, so if something was to go wrong, we don’t want an e-bike or e-scooter inside a property. However, we appreciate for some people, keeping it inside is the only option. If that is you, please follow this crucial safety advice that will protect yourself and those you live with.
“Never store the vehicle by your front door, in a hallway, or on any escape route. We’ve seen the devastating consequences of what can happen when an exit is blocked by an e-bike fire. Instead, keep it in a room where you can shut a door, contain the fire and call 999.
“Never charge your e-bike or e-scooter whilst you are asleep and unplug the charger once the vehicle has finished charging. Please also make sure you are using the correct charger for the vehicle.
“We strongly believe you are far safer if you buy your product from a reputable seller where you can be more confident that it has been built to the required safety standard.
“We are really concerned about the sale of faulty or counterfeit products being purchased from online marketplaces for e-bikes and e-scooters like chargers, batteries and conversion kits.
"With a record number of fires involving these vehicles so far in 2023 (around 160 fires), we fear that product innovation has come ahead of proper safety standards.
“Without much-needed legislation and the right standards, more dangerous and unregulated products bought online are going to end up in people’s homes and on our streets.
“That’s why we have used the UK Product Safety Review as an opportunity to continue our calls to the Office for Product Safety and Standards to undertake urgent research into the causes of these fires and consider what specific safety standards need to be introduced to reduce the risk of fires occurring.”
The Brigade was called at 0945 and the fire was extinguished by 1025. Crews from Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden fire stations attended the scene, along with a crew from Surrey Fire & Rescue Service.