Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a fire at a shop, with homes above, on High Street in Harlesden.
A ground floor shop was destroyed by fire. A small part of a first floor flat above the shop was damaged by fire and second-floor flat was damaged by smoke. Two adjacent first and second floor flats were also damaged by smoke. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade's Control Officers received more than five calls about the fire.
The Brigade was called at 0316 and the fire was brought under control by 0432. Crews from Willesden, Park Royal, North Kensington, Acton and Hammersmith fire stations attended the scene.
The fire is believed to have been caused by the failure of a lithium battery in a vape.
Vaping and e-cigarette top safety tips
- Buy e-cigarette devices from reputable retailers. Don’t buy counterfeit goods. Fire risks around vaping often come from counterfeit or faulty products.
- Follow the instructions for use carefully and pay close attention to any warnings supplied with the product.
- Always make sure that e-liquids are out of reach of children and pets.
- Never use vapes or e-cigarettes close to medical oxygen or where emollient creams or airflow mattresses are being used.
Batteries and charging
- Only use the chargers that came with the device.
- Never leave e-cigarettes charging unattended or on overnight.
- Don’t leave items continuously on charge (after the charge cycle is complete).
- Do not cover batteries that are on charge, in case of overheating.
- Avoid storing, using, or charging batteries in extremes of high or low temperatures.
- Protect batteries against being damaged, crushed or punctured and don’t immerse in water.
- Never let your battery come into contact with metal items such as coins or keys in a pocket or bag, as this can cause a short circuit and explosion.
