200 forced to flee and six taken to hospital after blaze at Lewisham hostel

A fire at a hostel saw 200 people evacuate the building and six people taken to hospital.

A small part of a flat and corridor on the first floor of a three-storey hostel was damaged by fire in the Old Road, Lewisham on Wednesday.

Ten people suffering from smoke inhalation were assessed on the scene, and six were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.

LFB was called at around 12.20pm and the fire was under control at around 1pm.  

Two fire engines and about 10 firefighters from Lewisham and Lee Green fire stations attended the scene. 

The fire is believed to have been caused by a fault in an e-bike lithium-ion battery. Firefighters are issuing another e-bike safety warning after the fire.

A LFB spokeswoman said: “It’s incredibly concerning we are continuing to see a rise in incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters. 

“When these batteries and chargers fail, they do so with ferocity and because the fires develop so rapidly the situation can quickly become incredibly serious. 

“Lithium-ion batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used and there is a significant risk posed by e-scooters which have been converted. 

“We are predominantly seeing fires where batteries have been purchased from online marketplaces and when they’ve been sourced on the internet, which may not meet the correct safety standards. 

“Our advice is to store and charge these items in a safe location if possible, such as in a shed or a garage, and if they have to be stored inside, make sure there is smoke detection fitted and your means of escape is not obstructed. 

“However, we know this won’t be possible for everyone, so if you are charging them indoors, please follow our advice on safe charging and ensure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire. 

“We would also suggest people try not to charge them when they are asleep, so that if there is an issue they can react quickly.” 

(Picture: LFB)