A fire broke out in a 15-storey apartment block in Plaistow yesterday (21 October).
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said that the fire was caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery and believe it was started accidently.
The blaze was controlled an hour after the first call was received as 70 firefighters attended the scene.
Residents were evacuated as the fire spread from a three-bedroom apartment on the tenth floor. Its interior and balcony were destroyed by the fire along with substantial damage to other balconies up to four storeys above the flat.
The LFB shared advice for the charging of lithium-ion batteries on their website, including reducing the risk of overheating.
This comes as more than 85 organisations across the country joined Electrical Safety First’s ‘Battery Breakdown’ campaign around the use of lithium-ion batteries. The organisation has drafted a Bill that would classify lithium-ion batteries used to power e-bikes and e-scooters as high-risk, requiring third-party certification for safety compliance.
