London Fire Brigade has warned that e-bikes can be “incredibly dangerous” after a battery explosion caused a fire that destroyed a family home in Catford, south-east London, shortly before Christmas. The fire damaged most of the first floor of the property and destroyed the loft. One resident had to escape via the front door, while two others climbed through a skylight to the roof of the converted loft. One of these subsequently fell from the roof and suffered injuries.
LFB said that the e-bike had been converted from a conventional pedal cycle by fitting a battery pack and had been bought from an online market. The fire is thought to have started when the bike’s battery was being charged. LFB has dealt with around 160 e-bike and e-scooter fires in London this year. The concen has prompted it to highlight the risks posed by e-bikes, one of the fastest growing causes of fire in London.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, a UK charity, confirmed that “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 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. A man from Cambridge called for urgent e-bike safety measures one year after his partner and two children died in a fire caused by the same problem. In October, the Department for Business and Trad lauched a campaign urging people to buy only tried and tested electrical products from reputable sellers
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