Explosion caused by failure of a lithium-ion battery

THE London Fire Brigade have issued warnings to members of the public after another e-bike battery explosion burned down part of multiple flats.

The London Fire Brigade were called to a property in Caithness House in Twyford Street on April 9 after reports of a fire.

Half of a ground-floor flat in a maisonette building was destroyed, as well as part of a first-floor flat, and some of the building’s communal area. Nobody was injured in the blaze.

The fire is believed to have been caused by the catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery which was being charged outside, but quickly spread to the inside of the flat.

The LFB said that the e-bike’s battery was purchased second-hand and was being charged with an incompatible charger when it set on fire.

Station commander Chris Mattingley, who attended the scene, said: “Last year, we saw a record number of e-bike and e-scooter fires and we continue to see a worrying amount of fires, including this one last night. Fortunately no one was hurt but a significant amount of damage has been caused to the property involved.

“The owner of the e-bike took the recommended action in charging the battery outside. However it was unfortunately too near to combustible materials allowing the fire to spread more easily once it occurred.

“To reduce the risk of fires starting in the first place, it is vital that you are using batteries that have been purchased from a reputable seller. Items purchased online or second-hand, which don’t meet UK safety standards, are particularly prone to going up in flames.”