Four people were forced to escape through windows after a fire broke out in their flat in Brondesbury Park, Brent, early on 10 June. A woman jumped from a first-floor window at the front of the building after two e-bikes burst into flames, blocking her escape route.
Fire Details
The London Fire Brigade responded to the blaze at a converted detached house containing flats shortly before 5am. Three other residents climbed onto a flat roof at the rear of the property on the first floor to escape. The fire was deemed accidental, caused by a lithium battery failure in an e-bike that was charging at the time. The bikes obstructed the doors to the flat, leaving windows as the only means of exit.
Fire Brigade Warning
The London Fire Brigade reported that it attends a fire involving an e-bike or e-scooter on average every other day. A spokesperson stated: "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 advised against storing e-bikes or e-scooters in hallways or near front doors. Instead, they recommended keeping such vehicles in a room where a door can be closed to contain a fire, allowing time to call 999.
Safety Advice
The incident also highlighted the need for working smoke alarms and heat detection. The brigade urged residents to fit smoke alarms in every room where a fire could start, except kitchens and bathrooms, where heat alarms are more appropriate. Last year, London recorded a record 206 fires involving e-bikes or e-scooters, prompting the brigade to issue #ChargeSafe advice to owners and potential buyers.
