A person was rescued from a Thornton Heath flat fire. Firefighters used breathing gear. Fire started from e-bike battery.
Ten fire engines came quickly, and about 70 firefighters fought the flames. One flat on the first floor burned badly, and the building’s roof also caught fire.
The London Fire Brigade sent many people, and they worked hard to stop the flames. Two people got out before firefighters arrived, but one person needed help to escape safely.
Firefighters used breathing gear to aid someone. The fire was under control by 7:44 pm. Investigators think an e-bike battery started it; the battery was charging, and it failed.
The first call about the fire came at 5:25 pm. Firefighters arrived from nearby stations, including Norbury and Woodside, and stopped the fire by 7:44 pm.
The fire brigade thinks it was an accident caused by a lithium battery for an e-bike, which was charging at the time.
The fire brigade gives advice for charging batteries: use only the right charger and get replacement chargers from trusted sellers.
Wrong chargers can cause fires as they might send too much power. Avoid multi-plug chargers unless the maker approves them, as these chargers can create more fire risk.