A Brixton mum and her three kids fled for their lives after an e-bike fire resulted in their home erupting in flames overnight. Firefighters rushed to the maisonette in Willington Road shortly before 2.25am this morning (Tuesday, March 11).
Most of the second floor was damaged by the fire, while the third floor was affected by heat and smoke. The family were able to escape their home before emergency services arrived but were treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation.
The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance crews. London Fire Brigade believes it was caused by the failure of lithium batteries pm the converted e-bike which was being charged.
Lambeth Borough Commander, Jonathan Holt, said: "This appears to have been an extraordinary escape for this family after their home became engulfed in flames in the middle of the night. One of the occupants was alerted to a loud bang and discovered the fire, quickly alerting the others to get out.
"The first firefighters were on scene within three minutes of being alerted and observed thick black smoke billowing from the property. The scale of devastation caused by this fire demonstrates just how ferocious fires involving lithium batteries can be."
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Four engines and 25 firefighters from Clapham, Brixton and Lambeth stations before it was brought under control by 3.35am.
E-bikes and e-scooters have become one of London's fastest-growing fire risks. In 2023 and 2024, there has been a fire on average every other day. An event is being held in Brixton town centre on Monday, March 17 where advice will be given to people who use e-scooters and e-bikes.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention & Protection, Richard Field, added: "E-bikes and e-scooters can be a great and sustainable way to travel around our city but they must be used safely otherwise the risk of a fire increases.
"Converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be very dangerous. 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.
"When charging your e-bike or e-scooter or the batteries for them, make sure you are using the correct charger. Mismatching the charger increases the risk of fire. It's also important not to overcharge and to unplug the charger once it's completed charging.
"Never charge an e-bike or e-scooter unattended or whilst you're sleeping and don't charge it on an escape route, such as in a hallway. Instead, charge or store the device outdoors or in a shed. If this is not possible, make sure the device is in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire and that you have working smoke detection fitted."
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