Residents urged to take care when charging e-scooters and electric bikes after six fires in the past year

A fire engine in Islington. Photograph: Julia Gregory

Residents are being warned to stay vigilant when charging e-scooters and electric bikes after an increase in the number of fires involving them.

Islington’s new fire commander Karl Smith said crews were called out to six fires in the last year because of problems with lithium batteries.

Overall, there have been eight fires involving the batteries in the last five years.

Smith said they are on his radar as he talked about fire safety at a housing scrutiny meeting yesterday.

E-bikes and e-scooters have soared in popularity in recent years.

It is illegal to use privately owned e-scooters in London and people can only use ones available for hire.

Islington was not one of the areas involved in the recent Transport for London trial of e-scooters.

In one incident in July 2021, most of the ground floor and half of the first floor of a split-level maisonette in Sutterton Street were damaged by fire, as well as a small area of a nearby flat.

Investigators believe the fire was caused accidentally when a lithium-ion battery pack for an electric bicycle ignited.

Batteries can be a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water or damaged, according to the fire brigade.

People are advised to use the correct charger and also to be vigilant about unplugging devices once they are charged. They should also avoid storing or charging batteries in very high or low temperatures and protect them from damage, including keeping them away from water.

Smith said 11 per cent of firefighters’ time in Islington is spent offering safety advice in a bid to keep people safe.

Over the last year, crews from the two stations in Holloway and Upper Street made 923 homes visits across the borough.

The commander said his teams are working with Islington Council to identify vulnerable residents and develop ways to support them.

“We continue to engage with the community and do visits face to face as we come out of Covid,” he said.

People can book a visit here.

London Fire Brigade also has a Home Fire Safety Checker here.