London facing record number of e-bike fires as fire chief warns incidents are now 'worryingly common'

"London is on course for a record number of e-bike fires this year, with firefighters responding to incidents almost every other day. Preliminary figures from the London Fire Brigade reveal that 165 e-bike and e-scooter fires have been recorded in the capital so far this year a 28% increase compared to the same period in 2024. If the current trend continues, London is expected to see more than 200 such incidents in a single year for the first time."

"She was found unconscious inside the property and pulled from the blaze by firefighters, but died in hospital later that day. A London Fire Brigade investigation found the fire was most likely sparked by a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery pack from a charging e-bike. Ms Siem's death is the fourth fatal e-bike fire since 2023 and in each case, the victim was not the owner or user of the e-bike involved."

London has recorded 165 e-bike and e-scooter fires so far this year, a 28% increase on the same period in 2024. If the current trend continues, more than 200 incidents could occur in a single year for the first time. At least one person has died this year and several others were injured; a recent death involved a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery from a charging e-bike. Since early 2023, firefighters have attended an e-bike or e-scooter fire on average every other day. Second-hand batteries and chargers bought online are linked to most fires because they are often poorly made and unregulated.

Read at www.standard.co.uk