The London Fire Brigade has issued another safety reminder about e-bikes after a fire on Central Parade in New Addington on Sunday night.
Fire risk: the cause of the New Addington blaze is thought to be a faulty e-bike battery
The fire occurred in a three-storey building made up of a shop with homes above.
Most of the first floor of a maisonette and half of the second floor of the maisonette was damaged by fire. A staircase between the first and second floors was destroyed by fire.
A man, woman and four children were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews suffering from smoke inhalation.
The fire is being treated as accidental and is believed to have been caused by the failure of lithium batteries on a converted e-bike.
A LFB spokesperson said: “E-bikes and e-scooters can be a fun and sustainable way of getting around London but the stark reality is that some of these vehicles are proving to be incredibly dangerous if they are not used safely.
“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.
“It’s important to make sure batteries and chargers you’re purchasing for the bike are from a reputable seller. At this time, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters sold via online marketplaces or auction sites when compared to high street shops, so we cannot be confident that products meet the correct safety standard.”
Lithium batteries store a significant amount of energy in a very small space and are much more powerful compared to other types of batteries. If that energy is released in an uncontrolled way, then a fire or explosion may result. If there is overheating, crushing, penetrating or overcharging, then a fault can occur within damaged battery cells which may cause the battery to catch fire or explode.
“Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller. You should also unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.
“Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as spares as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.”
The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers received five calls about the fire. The Brigade was called at 11.59pm and the fire was extinguished by 1.28am. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Addington, Biggin Hill and Woodside fire stations attended the scene.
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