The First Fire took place in Lower Clapton and part of a three roomed ground floor Flat in a converted House was damaged by the Fire. The e-bike was removed from the Flat and two men escaped, one suffered from smoke inhalation. It is believed that the e-bike was stored by the front door of the Flat.

The Second Fire took place in a residential block of Flats in Spitalfields. Part of the ground floor communal hallway was damaged by the Fire. Four people left the building before the Fire Brigade arrived. The Fire was contained in the communal hallway of the ground floor.

It is vital that you never block your escape route with anything, especially e-bikes and e-scooters.as there is an associated risk with the lithium batteries.

Fires involving lithium batteries are the fastest growing Fire risk for London. According to data collected by the London Fire Brigade most people injured in Fires related to e-bikes and e-scooters are in their 20s. The Fires are in homes where multiple adults are living together without children. The most risky time for e-bike and e-scooter Fires is when the lithium batteries are charging.

London Fire Brigade go on to explain that Lithium batteries store a significant amount of energy in a very small space and are much more powerful compared to other types of batteries. If that energy is released in an uncontrolled way, then a fire or explosion may result. If there is overheating, crushing, penetrating or overcharging, then a fault can occur within damaged battery cells which may cause the battery to catch fire and/or explode. Click here to read more

London Fire Risk Assessments safety tips to consider

• Never block your escape route
• If possible charge you e-bike or e-scooter away from you Flat in a garage or shed
• Do not tamper with the battery and make sure it meets the UK safety standards
• Always buy the battery from a reputable source
• Let the battery cool before charging

If you live in a residential Block of Flats or a House converted into Flats you should consult your Fire Risk Assessment for the premise as it should outline any concerns in regards to storing e-bikes and e-scooters in the communal areas.

It is the responsibility of the identified ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder to ensure that there is a current Fire Risk Assessment for the premise and any Fire Safety Actions identified in the report should be actioned upon and the Fire Safety Management Action Plan – Significant Findings kept up to date.

The Fire Risk Assessment should be carried out by a qualified Fire Risk Assessor who is accredited with an official body such as the Institute of Fire Safety Managers.

A third-party certified provider gives assurance that the risk assessment will be conducted by a competent assessor who will go beyond the cheap, basic tick-box approach in order to meet the ‘suitable and sufficient’ legislative requirement. It is imperative that the ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ checks that the Fire Risk Assessor is accredited.

London Fire Risk Assessments are completely independent of any companies offering Fire Safety Protection Services therefore their advice is unbiased. They have been established for over 15 years and all their Fire Safety Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers the Fire Protection Association, CS Todd Associates and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. They are on the IFSM Register of accredited Fire Risk Assessors and the National Register of Accredited Fire Risk Assessors. They are fully insured, and all their Assessors are retired Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they know how to put Fires out and how to prevent them!

For further information or to book a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit for your London premise then call 0781 8888626 alternatively click here