Sudbury Avenue Wembley fire: cause identified as battery

The London Fire Brigade said the blaze in Sudbury Avenue, Wembley, was sparked by the "catastrophic failure" of a lithium battery in a power bank.

No smoke detectors were noted at the house.

The brigade is urging people to use the correct chargers and never to leave batteries unattended or charging while people are asleep.

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Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters from Wembley, Northolt, Willesden and surrounding fire stations attended the blaze at 3.34pm on Thursday (August 8).

One of the brigade's 32m ladders was used to fight the fire, which was under control by 5.37pm. 

The ground floor, first floor, and roof of the two-storey house were all damaged.

There were no fire detectors in the property and lithium battery failed after being left on charge (Image: LFB)

Two vehicles parked outside were also damaged.

The brigade's control officers received 12 calls about the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.

A fire brigade spokesman said: “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.

"This incident also shows just how important it is to have working smoke alarms fitted on every level of your home.

“Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts and we would urge everyone to make sure they have one fitted in every room where a fire can start except kitchens or bathrooms where heat alarms are more appropriate.”