A mother in Bromley, south east London, lost her home in just 15 minutes after her son's e-bike battery caught fire. Joanne Frost, 42, returned to her two-bedroom house last June to find flames leaping from the windows. The e-bike, stored in the front room, was completely destroyed, leaving only the back wheel and part of the frame.
Joanne's 16-year-old son, Olly, was in the house with a friend and a dog when the fire started. He heard a bang and opened his bedroom door to find smoke and noise. A neighbor painting across the street brought a ladder and helped the boys escape. The dog was rescued shortly after. Joanne said: 'It literally just went up in 15 minutes. The house was just gone.'
The fire destroyed ceilings, a sofa, and newly bought kitchen appliances. Joanne has lived in temporary accommodation for 10 months, including six weeks in a Travelodge. She and her son suffer from PTSD and now only leave the fridge plugged in. She warns: 'Don't buy converted kits. Don't charge at night. Charge in the garden if possible.'
Olly had received the bike as a gift from his father for his 15th birthday and had used it for eight months to ride around the park and visit friends. Joanne calls for stricter regulations on e-bike manufacturers and suppliers.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson advised storing e-bikes outdoors if possible, or in a room away from escape routes. In the UK, road-legal e-bikes must have pedals and a motor that cuts out at 15.5 mph. Faster models are considered motorbikes and require tax and insurance.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Joanne start over.
