A woman had to be rescued by firefighters after she was trapped in a flat when an e-scooter went up in flames.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to Willesden Lane in Kilburn shortly after 2.30am on August 6 after a neighbour heard a woman shouting for help.

She was trapped inside a third-floor flat after the scooter set ablaze near the entrance.

Firefighters had to tackle the fire in order to reach her and take her to safety. She was later taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The blaze was extinguished shortly after 3.45am.

Most of the flat was damaged in the fire, which is believed to have been caused by the failure of lithium batteries in the e-scooter.

Deputy Commissioner Dom Ellis said: “It highlights the importance of never blocking an escape route with anything, including e-bikes and e-scooters.

“Store them somewhere away from a main through route. Our advice is to store these items in a safe location if possible, such as a garage or a shed.

“This incident also shows just how vital it is to have working smoke alarms fitted as the alarm failed to sound due to a power issue.”

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Willesden, West Hampstead, North Kensington and Paddington stations attended the scene.

The LFB said that it has attended 110 e-bike or e-scooter fires so far this year.

They added a number of people have been seriously injured or killed in these types of fires over the last two years.

A LFB spokesperson said: "The lithium batteries that power these vehicles store a huge amount of energy in a very small space.

“If that energy is released in an uncontrolled way, then a fire or explosion may result.

“The brigade is predominantly seeing fires where these batteries have been purchased from online which may not meet the correct safety standards.

“Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used and there is a significant risk posed by e-bikes and e-scooters which have been converted.”

LFB e-bike and e-scooter advice

 

  • Do not attempt to modify or tamper with your battery
  • Converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be very dangerous
  • Check your battery and charger meets UK safety standards
  • Watch out for signs that the battery or charger is hot to the touch or has changed shape
  • Always use the correct charger and buy an official one from a reputable seller
  • Let the battery cool before charging
  • Unplug your charger once it has finished charging and do not leave it unattended or while people are asleep