Two dogs die in house fires sparked by an e-bike and e-scooter

Two dogs were killed and 2 homes were destroyed successful abstracted fires involving an e-bike and an e-scooter conscionable hours isolated successful London.

The London Fire Brigade said the archetypal blaze was sparked by an e-scooter which was charging connected Barlow Road, West Hampstead, astir 10.30 americium Monday.

The flames dispersed quickly, prompting a effect of astir 60 firefighters to enactment it out. No 1 was hurt, but a favored canine was discovered dormant wrong the home.

Around 2.30 americium yesterday, a artillery battalion connected a converted e-bike burst into flames wrong a location successful Feltham.

Two of the 4 radical wrong the location were taken to hospital, with firefighters managing to rescue 2 dogs trapped indoors.

A 3rd canine died successful the fire, prompting the occurrence brigade to contented a warning.

LFB lawman adjunct commissioner for prevention and extortion Richard Field said: ‘It cannot beryllium underestimated the level of demolition each of these fires person caused, with some homes wholly damaged by occurrence and smoke.

‘It’s highly fortunate that nary radical person been earnestly wounded but a canine was sadly recovered dormant astatine the country of each fire. Both of these fires were caused by catastrophic artillery failures.

‘When these batteries fail, they tin origin ferocious fires, and the consequences tin beryllium devastating.’

Mr Field added that galore of the fires the brigade has attended progressive vehicles which were modified with parts bought online – similar scooters and bikes.

‘We recognize that radical are trying to prevention money, but if you spot a woody that looks excessively bully to beryllium true, it astir apt is,’ helium stressed.

LFB recorded 142 e-bike fires and 29 e-scooter fires past year. Since the commencement of 2023, 3 radical person died and much than 100 person been injured successful fires caused by e-bike artillery failures successful London.

One begetter said helium mislaid his full location successful conscionable 10 minutes aft his son’s converted e-bike artillery exploded.

Don Hettiarachchi, 49, had returned from a nighttime displacement arsenic a autobus operator erstwhile helium heard the fume alarm blare connected September 20 past year.

Both stories of his terraced location successful New Malden, a suburb of south-west London, were engulfed by flames and clogged with smoke.

‘It took lone 10 minutes to instrumentality my full house, that lithium battery,’ Don said.

Nearly 1 successful 10 Britons ain an e-bike aft becoming the go-to for transportation drivers zipping done the rainfall and environmentally conscious commuters over the coronavirus pandemic.

This fig is expected to emergence arsenic 1 successful 5 Londoners said they’re keen to bargain an e-bike connected Black Friday oregon Cyber Monday, according to a survey by the charity Electrical Safety First and the London Fire Brigade.

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