A woman was forced to make the terrifying leap from a third floor flat in Bermondsey at the weekend to escape what the brigade says is yet another e-bike battery fire.
The woman was rushed to hospital after the fire broke out on Sunday afternoon, April 12, at the flat on Reculver Road, just off Silwood Street in South Bermondsey.
According to London Fire Brigade it is believed to have been caused by a catastrophic failure of an e-bike battery that had been charging in the flat’s hallway for about 12 hours.
Deputy assistant commissioner Richard Field said: “This incident highlights why you should always ensure your escape route is clear and why we recommend to never charge your e-bike or e-scooter on your means of escape, such as a hallway or by your front door.”
Photo from LFB
(Image from LFB)
He added: “Although working smoke alarms helped alert the occupants quickly to this fire, a woman found herself trapped inside a bedroom with smoke travelling in.
“She decided to go out onto the balcony and jump to the ground, three storeys high.
“She has unfortunately sustained a quite serious injury due to the fall and we wish her well in her recovery.”
A man was also rescued by firefighters and treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Shockingly the deputy assistant commissioner added that firefighters are now attending a fire, on average every other day involving an e-bike or e-scooter.
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A record 206 e-bike fires were reported in London in 2025 and this year alone there have already been more than 30 incidents.
If lithium batteries end up overheating, crushing, penetrating or overcharging, a fault can occur within damaged battery cells which could cause the battery to catch fire and explode, the LFB says.
The brigade recommends buying batteries from reputable sellers, avoiding mismatching the charger and never charging batteries while unattended or asleep.
They say items purchased online or second-hand, which don’t meet UK safety standards, are particularly prone to going up in flames. They added that converting a bike from a pushbike into an e-bike should always be carried out by a professional or competent person.
The Brigade was called at 11:14 am to flat on Reculver Road with three fire engines from Deptford, Old Kent Road and Peckham attending, along with a fire rescue unit from Islington Fire Station. The fire was extinguished by 1145 am.
