Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded to a fire on Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath.
A first floor flat was destroyed by the fire, along with the buildings roof. Two people left the property before crews arrived, and one resident was led to safety by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
Traffic in the surrounding area will be impacted as crews remain on scene.
The Brigade received the first of eight calls reporting the fire at 1725, and Control Officers mobilised crews from Norbury, West Norwood, Woodside and surrounding fire stations to the scene. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 1944.
The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental, caused by the failure of a lithium battery for an e-bike that was being charged.
On average there was a fire from a lithium battery in an e-bike or e-scooter every two days in 2023 in London.
There a number of ways you can reduce the risks when charging lithium batteries:
Only ever use the correct charger for your battery, otherwise you can greatly increase the risk of fire.
Always buy any replacement chargers from a reputable seller.
Using the wrong charger could mean that too much power is put into the battery, leading to failure and a dangerous fire.
Always avoid general ‘multi-plug’ chargers that fit different models unless specifically approved by the battery manufacturer, as they may not provide the right power for your battery and may greatly increase the risk of fire.