Firefighters are reminding e-bike and e-scooter owners about the importance of charging their vehicles safely following a fire at a block of flats on Abbey Road in West Hampstead.
Part of a bedsit on the third floor was damaged by fire as well as the front door of a neighbouring flat.
Fire crews believe the fire was caused by an e-bike lithium battery charging in a bedroom and bursting into flames. There were no smoke alarms in the property. Two residents left before the Brigade arrived and five remained in the property.
The Brigade was called at 0244 and the fire was brought under control by 0427. Two fire engines from West Hampstead fire station and around 10 firefighters attended.
Station Officer Steve Duffy was at the scene, he said: “This would have been a terrifying incident for all involved and it is incredibly lucky that no lives have been lost.
"This incident shows how important working smoke alarms are throughout a property. The occupants were asleep when the battery started to make a crackling noise in the bedroom as it was charging, It is pure chance that the battery owner heard the noise. The fire spread rapidly and he managed to remove it from the room and place it in a communal stairwell. By placing it in the stairwell it meant a fire escape route was blocked. Despite the battery not being placed in an ideal spot – it completely destroyed the neighbour’s front door – it’s certain if the battery had gone into thermal runaway (this is when there’s a dangerous chemical reaction that can occur when a battery cell overheats) in the bedroom then the other inhabitants could have been seriously injured or much much worse.
“This fire is yet another example in London of the dangers e-bikes and e-scooters can pose if the battery fails catastrophically and catches fire. Our advice is to store and charge these items in a location away from where people live, such as in a shed or a garage, and if they have to be stored inside, make sure there is smoke detection fitted, it’s kept it in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire and your means of escape is not obstructed.
“The man who attempted to move the battery is lucky not to be seriously hurt. Fires involving lithium batteries, which power these vehicles, can be ferocious, producing jets of flame. The blaze is also hot enough to melt through metal. This type of fire produces a highly flammable, explosive and toxic vapour cloud which should never be inhaled. The fire can also be extremely challenging to put out. Our advice is to get away to safety and call 999.”
In 2023, e-bikes and e-scooters became London’s fastest-growing fire risk, with around 170 fires. Sadly, three people died and around 60 people were hurt. In 2024, there have been around 90 fires.
The fires often occur when the lithium batteries that power these vehicles fail and explode. Batteries can fail for a number of reasons; such as if they have been built poorly, are fake or counterfeit, are damaged, overcharged or the incorrect charger is used.
London Fire Brigade has been running its #ChargeSafe campaign to raise awareness of the fire risks associated with these types vehicles and seek changes to regulation to prevent poor quality batteries, chargers and conversion kits being sold via online marketplaces.
Earlier this month, a major step towards improving the regulation of online marketplaces was taken following the inclusion of the Product Safety & Metrology Bill in the King’s Speech. If the Bill is passed by Government, it will provide more regulatory protection for consumers, including for those buying e-bike and e-scooter products.
London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Charlie Pugsley said: “This is a really welcome step in the drive to reduce the worrying risk of e-bike and e-scooter fires, ultimately by decreasing the chance of customers being exposed to buying unsafe products, such as lithium batteries, chargers and conversion kits which are dangerous and do not meet UK safety standards.
“In London, we have seen a significant number of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters, which have devastated lives and livelihoods, and last year three people sadly died in the capital as a result of these fires. As part of our #ChargeSafe campaign, we have been warning about the lack of regulation for e-bikes and e-scooters, and particularly e-bike conversion kits, chargers and batteries, which are sold via online marketplaces and the need for legislation to ensure these products are more strictly regulated.
"We hope this Bill will set a pathway for the necessary action to be taken to protect people from these types of fires, whilst allowing consumers to purchase with confidence and use these products safely."