Battery fire destroys family home days before Christmas

A “devastating” e-bike battery explosion has destroyed a family home days before Christmas, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.

The fire service has warned e-bikes can be “incredibly dangerous” after the fire in Renshaw Close in Catford, south-east London, on 14 December.

LFB said the e-bike had been converted from a conventional pedal cycle by having a battery pack fitted to it, and was being charged at the time of the fire.

Footage from a doorbell camera showed how quickly the house became engulfed. One occupant had to escape through the front door, and two others in a converted loft climbed through a skylight on to the roof.

LFB said fire damaged most of the first floor of the house and destroyed the loft and that the e-bike had been bought from an online marketplace.

One male fell from the roof and suffered serious injuries, while a woman slipped but was caught by a firefighter, and later treated for smoke inhalation.

LFB deputy assistant commissioner Richard Field described the fire as “devastating” and said it was “fortunate that no lives have been lost”.

He added: “We’ve seen around 160 e-bike and e-scooter fires in London this year and this incident highlights the dangers e-bikes and e-scooters can pose.

“E-bikes are one of London’s fastest-growing fire risks, with a fire on average once every other day.

“If you’re planning on buying an e-bike or e-scooter for yourself or a loved one for Christmas and you see an offer online that seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

In June, a coroner called for government action after the death of a man whose home in Bristol caught fire when an e-bike battery pack he was charging overheated and ignited.

Also in June, a man from Cambridge called for urgent e-bike safety measures one year after his partner and two children died in a fire.

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of charity Electrical Safety First, said: “Batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters can cause devastating fires if they are modified, damaged, charged incorrectly or manufactured to a poor standard.

“The risk associated with these devices means it has never been more important to stick to a reputable high street retailer to ensure the device you are bringing into your home is safe.”

In October, the Department for Business and Trade launched a campaign calling on people to buy only safe electrical products from reputable sellers.