Britons have been warned of a rise in electrical fires, which have been sweeping across the UK, with figures up by nearly a third.
Research shows that London is on track to experience its worst year for e-bike and e-scooter fires, with 165 blazes recorded by September 28, marking a 28 per cent rise compared to the same period in 2024.
The London Fire Brigade’s latest figures show 134 e-bike fires and 31 e-scooter fires in the first nine months of this year, averaging approximately 18 incidents monthly.
If this pattern persists through the remaining months, the city will exceed 200 such fires in a single year for the first time.
The surge in incidents has prompted urgent calls from fire officials for increased public awareness about the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries, particularly those purchased second-hand or through online marketplaces.
The urgency follows the death of a 30-year-old woman who became the fourth person to die in an e-bike fire in London.
Firefighters discovered the person unconscious inside the property and rescued her, but unfortunately, she later died in the hospital.
The Brigade’s Fire Investigation Team determined that the fire was most likely caused by a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery pack for an e-bike that was being charged. This marked the first e-bike-related fatality in the capital since 2023.
The London Fire Brigade attended roughly 165 fires associated with e-bikes in the first nine months of the year
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LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
Significantly, in all four fatal fires involving e-bikes recorded in London, the victims neither owned nor used the e-bike that caused the blaze, highlighting the risks these devices pose to others sharing the same building.
Several serious incidents have occurred across London in recent weeks, underscoring the severity of the e-bike fire crisis.
In a more recent case, a man suffered severe burns when lithium-ion batteries for a converted e-bike caught fire while charging in a Putney High Street flat.
Four days earlier, a woman sustained serious injuries after jumping from a first-floor window to escape a house fire on Ivorydown, Downham, caused by a charging e-bike battery.
The fire brigade revealed that it has attended nearly 200 e-bike and e-scooter-related fires in the past three years
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LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
In August, a woman’s life was initially threatened after a converted e-bike’s charging battery pack failed and ignited in a Brockley Road flat bedroom, with two others requiring rescue from trapped bedrooms.
Around 80 firefighters attended a North Kensington block of flats on June 19, rescuing nine people from a fire believed to have been caused by a trike-style scooter’s lithium-ion battery pack that had been fitted with aftermarket products.
The London Fire Brigade has now written to major gig economy companies, including Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Deliveroo, urging them to share crucial safety information with their delivery riders.
Pamela Oparaocha, Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection at the London Fire Brigade, said: “We continue to see the devastating consequences of e-bike and e-scooter fires in London. Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by fires in recent years.”
E-bikes are more likely to catch fire when charging in houses
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LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
Lithium batteries powering e-bikes and e-scooters can fail and explode for various reasons, including poor construction, counterfeit components, damage, overcharging or use of incorrect chargers.
Products purchased through online marketplaces face higher malfunction risks as they undergo less stringent regulation than high-street retailers, experts have warned.
London Fire Brigade detailed how it has attended fires affecting diverse groups, including families and students, with many incidents involving second-hand vehicles or bikes modified with parts bought online that may not meet safety standards.
To avoid unnecessary fire risks, the brigade has advised riders to purchase e-bikes, e-scooters and accessories from reputable sellers and to check for UKCA or CE safety marks and use only correct chargers.