A young man has issued a stark warning about the dangers of e-scooters after he was forced to flee for his life when his device burst into flames, causing a devastating fire that destroyed his grandmother's flat.
A Terrifying Escape from the Flames
Jahmell Campbell, 24, was watching television with his father at his grandmother's flat in Catford, south-east London, one night in March when a loud explosion shattered the evening's calm. He described the sound as being "like a grenade".
"We looked towards the front door and we just saw lots of smoke and flames coming out of the room," Mr Campbell recounted. The situation was so sudden and shocking that he said they struggled to comprehend what was happening. It was only after escaping the building that he realised his e-scooter was the source of the inferno.
In a desperate bid to survive, Mr Campbell jumped from the first-floor window at the front of the property. Meanwhile, his father and grandmother managed to escape from the back. "I am not sure how we all made it out of the house alive," he said, reflecting on the trauma that followed, including his father suffering from bad nightmares.
A Growing Trend of E-Vehicle Fires
This harrowing incident is not an isolated case. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has revealed that they attend an average of 18 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters every month. Firefighters predict they will have responded to 200 such fires in London by the end of 2025.
LFB Commissioner Jonathan Smith emphasised the severity of the issue during a safety demonstration in Piccadilly Circus. "We're now dealing with one of these types of fires every other day," he stated. "Sadly, that includes two fires where two people were killed. So this is a real and present risk that we're wanting to highlight to Londoners."
Safety Warnings and Consumer Advice
In the wake of his experience, Jahmell Campbell has vowed never to own an e-scooter again and strongly advises others against them. "I would never get another e-scooter," he told PA. "It really affects you when it goes wrong. People around you as well."
With Black Friday approaching, the London Fire Brigade has issued a crucial warning about the potential risks of buying e-vehicles from online marketplaces, where products may lack proper safety regulation. The brigade advises that high street retailers are more likely to stock e-scooters and e-bikes with batteries and chargers that meet UKCA or CE safety standards, offering consumers a safer alternative.
