Fire service issues new safety warning over charging and storing of e-bikes and e-scooters

A new safety warning has been issued over e-bikes and e-scooters following two house fires in London over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has warned of the dangers these vehicles pose, urging Brits to be careful about how they charge and store them, as devastating pictures show aftermaths of house fires caused by e-bikes.

This comes after the fire service was called to a semi-detached house in Dalston, east London, in the early hours of Sunday 9 April, when a charging e-bike set alight.

The staircase was damaged in the blaze as a man had to be rescued from the first floor, and was treated for smoke inhalation as the bike blocked an escape route.

The second blaze broke out the following day on the ground floor of a three-storey house in Streatham, south London, as two men were led to safety by firefighters.

Luckily a woman and three children managed to leave the house before the crews arrived as the LFB took about an hour to tame the flames.

Following the latest two incidents, fire chiefs have issued an urgent warning about the charging and storing of e-bikes and scooters.

Speaking about the two incidents, LFB Deputy Commissioner Dom Ellis said: ‘Investigators believe a converted e-bike caught fire at the house in Dalston and we understand the bike’s batteries were purchased online second-hand.

‘The bike was on charge at the time and due to where it was being charged, blocked an escape route and a man had to be rescued by our firefighters via a short extension ladder.

‘It is vital that you never block your escape route with anything, including e-bikes and e-scooters. And the only way to be sure of a legal, safe and reliable e-bike is to buy one in complete form, from a trusted and reputed retailer.

‘Meanwhile, at the incident on Barrow Road, a smoking e-scooter was moved by an occupant from a room to a communal area of the house where the fire then spread.

‘Moving the scooter significantly increased the risk to everyone inside the house and reaffirms our advice which is if you suspect there is a fire involving these types vehicles, leave it, shut the door, get out and call 999.’

The fire brigade has attended over 158 e-bike and e-scooter fires from the start of 2022 to March 2023 – resulting in 78 injuries and some fatalities.

This means that on average in 2023, the LFB has been called to an e-bike or e-scooter fire once every two days.

This is a 60 per cent increase in the rate of fires, compared to the same period last year.

In 2022, the London Fire Brigade attended 87 e-bike and 29 e-scooter fires – a total of 116 fires.

And according to the fire brigade, most people injured in these fires are in their 20s.

They added that fires are also more likely to occur in homes where multiple adults are living together without children.

Devastating pictures show what little is left of homes following three house fires caused by electric bikes in London, in Shepherds Bush, Wapping and Tottenham.

Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal in public places in London, but are not illegal to purchase.

E-bikes and e-scooters are at their most risky when their lithium batteries are charging, as during this period the batteries are most likely to fail.

Lithium batteries also store a significant amount of energy in a very small space. This means that they are much more powerful compared to other types of batteries.

Therefore, the LFB has warned that if energy is released in an uncontrolled way a fire or explosion can occur.

A blaze or explosion can also occur if there a battery is overheated or overcharged.

And while cheaper batteries are available to buy online, they do not always adhere to the UK’s safety regulations and are more likely to present an increased fire risk.

DIY installations can also lead to damage of the kit, experts have warned.

On New year’s Day, Sofia Duarte, 21, died after a converted e-bike battery burst into flames in the entrance of her London flat.

The devastating incident led her mother to urge people to take care with e-scooters and e-bikes.

Maria Frasquilho Macarro said: ‘Sofia loved life, she loved to party and she enjoyed her job working behind the bar at a nightclub. Now all I have left is my daughter’s ashes.

‘I really want to make sure her death is not in vain and if I can raise awareness about the dangers of e-bikes and lithium batteries then there will be a positive in this.

‘If we can save someone else’s life, I will take great comfort in that because at the moment I am hurting – I don’t want others to suffer as much as I have done.

‘Sofia meant the world to me and my family. I don’t know how to live without her. It feels like a nightmare and I can’t wake up.’

Following this, the LFB have set up the #ChargeSafe campaign, which aims to highlight the fire risks associated with lithium batteries.

As part of the campaign, the brigade outlined safety tips for e-bike and e-scooter users.

These include: urging people not to block escape routes, check the battery and charger meets UK safety standards and always use the correct and official charger from a reputable seller.

Experts have also warned people never to modify or tamper with their battery and let the battery cool before charging.

Brits have also been advised that they should unplug the charger once it’s finished charging and fit alarms wherever they may charge.

London Fire Brigade is also partnering with delivery companies like Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats to provide safety information to their drivers about the risks of e-bike fires, as part of the campaign.