A woman was forced to jump from a first-floor window to escape a fire caused by a faulty e-bike battery in north London. Emergency services were called to Brondesbury Park in Brent at around 5am on Tuesday, June 9, to tackle a blaze at a house converted into flats.
Escape from the Fire
The woman evacuated by jumping out of a front-facing first-floor window and was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs. Three other occupants escaped by climbing onto a flat roof at the rear of the property. Around 40 firefighters from six fire stations, including Willesden, West Hampstead, North Kensington, Park Royal, and Paddington, brought the fire under control by approximately 5:50am.
Cause of the Fire
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) stated that the fire was accidental and likely caused by the failure of lithium batteries in an e-bike that was on charge at the time. The bikes were completely destroyed and had been blocking the flat's doors, leaving windows as the only escape route.
LFB reports attending an e-bike or e-scooter fire on average every other day, with 206 such fires in 2025. They have issued fresh safety reminders.
Safety Advice
An LFB spokesperson said: "This incident highlights why you should always ensure your escape route is clear and why we recommend never storing an e-bike or e-scooter on your means of escape, such as a hallway or by your front door. We've seen the devastating consequences of what can happen when an exit is blocked by an e-scooter fire. Instead, keep it in a room where you can shut a door, contain the fire and call 999."
The brigade stresses using only batteries from reputable sellers, as items bought online or second-hand often fail UK safety standards and can catch fire. They also advise against overcharging, leaving a vehicle charging unattended or while sleeping, and converting a pushbike into an e-bike.
