A fire broke out in a mobility shop in on Wednesday evening, believed to have been caused by the ‘failure of a lithium-ion battery’.
Lithium batteries are rechargeable batteries found in e-bikes and e-scooters as well as common household items like laptops and phones.
Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze at the City Mobility shop on Southwark Park Road just before 6pm on Wednesday (25 March).
It is believed the shop was closed when the fire broke out.
The ground-floor shop was destroyed and a small part of a first-floor flat was damaged by fire.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led a child to safety from a third-floor flat using a fire escape hood.
There were no reports of any injuries.
The brigade said that the fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery.
Station Commander Tony Perks, who was at the scene, said: “Initial crews faced a very intense fire on arrival and worked swiftly to bring it under control and ensure residents in flats above the shop were safe.”
Relatedarticles
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson added: “Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
“You should unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.
“Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged too.
“Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.”
