Forest Fields House Fire Caused By E-Bike

A house fire which occurred on Wednesday 2 July has been deemed as accidental caused by failure of a lithium-ion battery.

Firefighters from Stockhill, London Road and Arnold Fire Station attended the fire on Burford Road, Forest Fields, following a call at 4:20am.

One male was rescued from the three-storey property by firefighters, and eight others were led to safety – three of which sustained minor injuries.

Following a joint fire and police investigation, the fire has been deemed to have started accidentally, following a failure of a lithium-ion battery pack which had been left charging overnight.

Head of Community Safety and Engagement, Amy Goulden, said: “Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are on the rise, and as a service we are attending more of them. This incident is just another example of how dangerous these types of fires can be. 

“Thankfully, the incident was resolved quickly, and we are relieved to hear the injuries of those involved are minor, however the effects could have been catastrophic. 

“The battery involved in this incident was from an e-bike which had been purchased second-hand online. Although the charger was the one which had come with the bike, it may not have been through rigorous safety checks needed to sell these products new on the high street. 

“We recommend that electrical items including e-bikes and e-scooters are always brought from a reputable retailer and have the correct kite marks. When charging items, we advise that the correct chargers are always used, and that they are charged during the day and whilst you’re in the property – charging batteries overnight or whilst unattended, like in this instance, can cause serious damage.

Please do not charge e-bike, hoverboards or e-scooters near your exits. If an electrical fire does occur, we want you to be able to get out as quick as possible, stay out, and call 999."

Councillor Corall Jenkins, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Waste and Equalities, said: “Our Trading Standards teams are regularly out across the city enforcing safety regulations and taking action against unsafe items. 

“However, we continue to see dangerous items – such as lithium-ion batteries and chargers – being sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces, where safety standards can be more difficult to enforce. 

“We strongly urge consumers to take extra care when buying electrical goods online, especially from unfamiliar or overseas sellers. Poor-quality or non-compliant products can pose serious risks, including fires, as recent incidents have shown. 

“If you’re concerned about a product you've purchased, or want to report an unsafe item, please do so via the Citizens Advice website, or via telephone on 0808 2231133. Your reports help us investigate and take the necessary action to keep people safe.”

Whilst investigating the fire, the Fire Investigation Team reported that the internal doors of the property were shut, giving the residents and emergency service personnel extra time.

Amy added: “Closing doors within your property, especially at night, is a crucial safety measure and probably added to the limited fire damage within the rest of this property. 

“By taking a step as a simple as closing your internal doors before leaving the house or going to bed, you significantly improve fire safety, and it can potentially save lives.”

You can read more about electrical safety and safety around e-bikes and e-scooters on our website.