A woman was forced to leap from a first-floor window after two e-bikes burst into flames at a flat in Brondesbury Park, Brent, London. The fire, which broke out at around 5am on June 10, was caused by a lithium battery failure on one e-bike that was charging, with a second bike subsequently catching fire.
The burning bikes obstructed the doors to the flat, leaving windows as the only escape route. The woman escaped by jumping from a first-floor window at the front of the building, while three other residents managed to get out by climbing onto a flat roof at the rear of the property.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: 'The fire blocked the residents' main escape route, preventing them from exiting the flat. As a result, they were forced to evacuate the building through bedroom windows.' The spokesperson emphasised the importance of keeping escape routes clear and not storing e-bikes or e-scooters in hallways or by front doors.
The brigade also highlighted the need for working smoke alarms and heat detection, noting that in London, they attend an e-bike or e-scooter fire on average every other day. Last year saw a record 206 such fires, prompting the #ChargeSafe campaign to urge owners to follow safety advice.
