Firefighters have issued a reminder of their lithium battery advice following a fire at a house on Sudbury Avenue in Wembley.
The incident occurred in a two-storey detached house. The ground floor, first floor, and roof space of the property were all damaged by fire. Two vehicles parked at the property were also damaged by flames. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the catastrophic failure of a lithium battery in a power bank. There were no smoke detectors noted at the property.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
"You should unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.
“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 too.
“Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.
"This incident also shows just how important it is to have working smoke alarms fitted on every level of your home.
“Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts and we would urge everyone to make sure they have one fitted in every room where a fire can start except kitchens or bathrooms where heat alarms are more appropriate.”
One of the Brigade's 32m ladders was deployed to the scene to fight the fire from height.
The Brigade's Control Officers received the first of 12 calls regarding the fire at 1534 and the fire was under control by 1737. Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters from Wembley, Northolt, Willesden and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.