Firefighters issue another warning about e-bike safety after two people escape blaze
Firefighters have issued another warning about using e-bikes and e-scooters safely after two people escaped a house fire on Wednesday.
Part of the ground floor hallway of a two-storey maisonette was damaged by the fire at Johnson’s Place in Pimlico.
Two people managed to escape the property before firefighters arrived. They were not injured in the fire, the London fire brigade (LFB) said.
The LFB received nine calls about the fire, the first call came in at around 2pm. The fire was brought under control by around 2.20pm.
Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Brixton, Chelsea and Paddington fire stations attended the scene.
The fire is being treated as accidental and is believed to have been caused by the failure of a lithium battery pack from an e-bike.
During their investigation, firefighters discovered the battery was manufactured by a company called UPP. A UPP battery was also involved in a fire in Kensington recently, the LFB reported.
Last month, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) announced it has taken enforcement action against UPP after its products were linked to a number of fires in the UK.
Five online marketplaces have been issued with Withdrawal Notices, which require them to stop supplying the UPP battery. The Withdrawal Notice has also been issued to 20 sellers directly and the China-based manufacturer.
A LFB spokesman said: “The e-bike was in the hallway when it caught alight. Whilst one person was able to escape, a second person on the first floor had to use a neighbour’s ladder to get out.
“E-bikes and e-scooters, which have become London’s fastest-growing fire risk, should not be stored on escape routes. If you can’t keep them outside or in a shed, they should be put in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire.”
This week firefighters were out in Whitechapel to talk to food delivery riders about the risks of e-bikes and offered safety advice.
Pictured top: Firefighters out in Whitechapel to speak with food delivery riders about the risks of e-bikes (Picture: LFB)
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