No-one was injured but the second floor of the five-storey building on Salisbury Road was destroyed

Firefighters have issued a reminder of their e-bike safety advice following a fire at a shop and flats in Tottenham on Saturday (10th).

The second floor of the five-storey building on Salisbury Road was destroyed and part of the roof was damaged by the fire. Six people left the building before the brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.

The brigade was called at 2.40am and the fire was brought under control by 5am. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Tottenham, Hornsey, Southgate and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the “catastrophic failure” of a lithium battery pack for an e-bike.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “E-bikes and e-scooters are one of London’s fastest-growing fire risks. If you own an e-bike or e-scooter, there are a number of things you can do to help keep yourself and those around you safe.

“When charging your e-bike or e-scooter or the batteries for them, make sure you are using the correct charger. Mismatching the charger increases the risk of fire. It’s also important not to overcharge and to unplug the charger once it’s completed charging.

“Never charge an e-bike or e-scooter unattended or whilst you’re sleeping and don’t charge it on an escape route, such as in a hallway. Instead, charge or store the device outdoors or in a shed. If this is not possible, make sure the device is in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire.”

E-bikes and e-scooters are powered by lithium batteries. 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.

Many of the fires have involved second-hand vehicles or the bike has been modified using parts bought online. At this time, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters sold via online marketplaces or auction sites when compared to high street shops, so the brigade says it cannot be confident that products meet the correct safety standard.

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