19 September 2023 , 09:23
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A man has suffered life-changing burns as a result of an e-bike catching fire inside a bedroom of his flat.
The occupant tried to put out the flames with an extinguisher but suffered the injuries in the process. Firefighters said the blaze happened when the e-bike was on charge and the lithium battery, which powers these vehicles, overheated.
The latest blaze, which happened in Highgate, North London, was the 137th fire because of e-bikes in the capital alone this year. London Fire Brigade (LFB) has again reminded people of the dangers of tackling lithium battery blazes themselves.
LFB Deputy Commissioner Dom Ellis said: "We strongly recommend calling us immediately if there is a fire, but particularly if it involves your e-bike or e-scooter. Fires involving lithium batteries, which power these vehicles, can be ferocious, producing jets of flame. The blaze is also hot enough to melt through metal. This type of fire produces a highly flammable, explosive and toxic vapour cloud which should never be inhaled. The fire can also be extremely challenging to put out.
"This incident, and the severe injuries sustained by this e-bike owner, highlights why you should never tackle a lithium battery fire. Our advice is to get out and call 999."
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A fire also linked to an electric bike damaged part of a shop in Bow, East London, last week (PA)Three people have died and more than 50 have been injured in e-bike fires in the capital this year, reports My London. A shop in the Bow area was damaged last week due to another e-bike blaze.
Deputy Commissioner Ellis added: "We recognise the many benefits e-bikes bring to travel in our city, but the stark reality is that some of these vehicles are proving to be incredibly dangerous, particularly if they have been modified with second-hand products or if batteries are used with the wrong chargers.
"We fear we will continue to see a high level of these fires unless urgent research takes place into the causes of these battery fires. Proper regulation is also required to help prevent people unknowingly purchasing dangerous products, such as batteries and conversion kits, from online marketplaces."
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First commented: "Online marketplaces are a hot bed for substandard e-bike chargers with our own snapshot investigation finding more than 60 that posed a serious risk of fire. Incompatible chargers can supply an e-bike battery with too much voltage causing a catastrophic fire and we want to see a ban on universal chargers that risk doing exactly this. Until online marketplaces are regulated like our high street stores fires will continue. Time is of the essence and our Battery Breakdown report offers the Government extensive solutions to tackle this issue that is claiming lives across the country."