Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded to a flat fire on Queens Road West in Plaistow.
The fire was located in a three bedroom flat on the 10th floor, in a residential block of 15 floors. The flats interior and balcony were both destroyed by the fire. Balconies on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th floors, directly above the fire, were also heavily damaged by flames.
Three men left the flat before the Brigade arrived, and two were treated on scene by the London Ambulance Service. Around 30 people evacuated from the building, with firefighters carrying out a systematic search of the affected floors, and there were no reports of any further injuries.
People are advised to avoid the area as crews remain on scene. Traffic in the surrounding area will be impacted by our presence.
The Brigade's Control Officers took over 30 calls reporting the fire, with the first received at 0802. Crews were able to bring the fire under control by 0903, with firefighters from East Ham, Plaistow, Stratford and surrounding fire stations at the scene.
The Brigade's fire investigation team believe the fire was started accidentally, caused by the failure of an e-bike lithium battery.
Safety tips for e-bike and e-scooter users to follow
- Never block your escape route with anything, including e-bikes and e-scooters. Store them somewhere away from a main through route. Our advice is to store these items in a safe external location if possible, such as a garage or a shed.
- Always use the correct charger, otherwise the risk of fire increases, and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
- Do not attempt to modify or tamper with your battery. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be very dangerous. They can pose a higher risk of fire. Get a professional or competent person to carry out the conversion and make sure to buy a battery from a reputable seller and that it is not second-hand.
- Check your battery and charger meets UK safety standards. We have particular concern 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. Consumers buying any product can check that the item displays a UKCA or CE mark that ensures that the products meet UK and EU safety, health or environmental requirements. If buying online, buy from a UK supplier.
- Watch out for signs that the battery or charger aren’t working as they should – e.g. if the battery is hot to the touch or has changed shape.
- Do not try and tackle the fire yourself. Get away safely and call 999.
- For more safety information visit our #ChargeSafe campaign
