Four fire engines and 25 firefighters put out the fire on Saturday night
An e-bike shed next to a shop on Walthamstow High Street was destroyed after two e-bikes caught fire.
Four fire engines and 25 firefighters were called to the fire just after 11pm on Saturday night (4th November). According to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), four people left the building next to the shed before fire response crews arrived. No injuries were reported.
The LFB believes the fire to have been accidental and says it was caused by the failure of two lithium-ion batteries.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “The Brigade was called at 11:02pm and the fire was under control by 12.32am. Crews from Walthamstow, Tottenham and Woodford fire stations attended the scene.”
This story is published by Waltham Forest Echo, Waltham Forest's free monthly newspaper and free news website. We are a not-for-profit publication, published by a small social enterprise. We have no rich backers and rely on the support of our readers. Donate or become a supporter.
The spokesperson added: “The owners of these bikes did the right thing by storing these e-bikes outside the home which helped to limit the damage.
“There are an increasing number of fires caused by e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium batteries which is why we’re running our #ChargeSafe campaign here in London to raise awareness of the risks and share our safety advice. Tragically, our crews attended an e-bike fire where a young woman lost her life at the start of this year.
“We want people who own an e-bike or e-scooter to travel safely and charge safe. Please follow our safety advice: always buy your battery from a reputable and trusted seller, charge your battery in a safe location that doesn’t block your exit route in an emergency.
“We recommend storing your e-bike in an outdoor shed which can help protect you, your family and your home from harm. Never charge e-bikes and e-scooters when the household is asleep so that everyone can react quickly should there be a fire.”
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations