LFB issues home safety reminder after Norbury e-bike fire rescue

London Fire Brigade has highlighted an e-bike fire rescue in Norbury as part of an urgent safety warning against charging or storing lithium-ion batteries in communal hallways.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has issued a fresh home safety warning to residents in Norbury SW16 and across South London following a dramatic rescue from a flat fire on London Road, Norbury.

The Incident

Emergency crews were called to a property on London Road in Norbury shortly before midnight after an e-bike battery, which was charging in a ground-floor communal hallway, overheated and erupted into a ferocious fire. The location of the fire left several residents in the flats upstairs trapped, unable to use the building's only exit route.

A newly recruited rookie firefighter on his first week of duty was among the crews dispatched to the scene, and successfully assisted in rescuing a family, including three children, from the upper floors of the smoke-filled building. There were no fatalities, but the incident has highlighted the serious risks associated with charging and storing electric bikes and scooters inside residential buildings.

The Danger of Hallway Charging

According to the London Fire Brigade, storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters in escape routes like communal hallways poses a significant threat to life. If a lithium-ion battery fails and goes into 'thermal runaway,' it can produce high-intensity flames and thick, toxic smoke within seconds, completely blocking the exit for everyone in the building.

LFB has warned that battery fires in the capital are occurring "every other day," with many incidents linked to defective online charging kits or unbranded batteries. By the end of October, London had recorded 181 e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2025 alone—the highest number in a single year.

How to Keep Your Home Safe

The London Fire Brigade advises all e-bike and e-scooter owners to follow basic safety guidelines to protect their families and neighbours:

Never block your exit: Do not charge or store e-bikes or e-scooters in hallways, corridors, or escape routes.
Charge when awake: Do not leave batteries charging overnight or while you are away from the property.
Use official chargers: Always buy chargers and batteries from reputable manufacturers, and avoid cheap, unbranded replacements sold online.
Let it cool down: Allow the battery to cool down after use before plugging it in to charge.
Install smoke alarms: Ensure you have working smoke alarms in the area where you store your bike, and test them regularly.

For more detailed safety advice, residents can visit the official London Fire Brigade website.