Firefighters have issued a reminder of their lithium-ion battery safety advice following a fire at a house on Collingwood Road in Sutton on Sunday morning.

Fire risk: the LFB offers safety advice over the bike batteries

Part of a room on the first floor in a semi-detached house was destroyed by fire. Seven people left before the Brigade arrived. One man was treated for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service.

The fire is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “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 unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.

“Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged too.

“Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.”

For more safety information, see the LFB’s #ChargeSafe campaign advice.

The Brigade was called at 4.15am and the incident was over by 5.19am.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Sutton, Mitcham, Wimbledon and New Malden fire stations attended.

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