A South London borough recorded the highest number of e-scooter and e-bike battery fires inside residential properties in the capital in 2025, a London Fire Brigade (LFB) Station Commander has disclosed. St Cdr Mike Watts, based at Forest Hill Fire Station, reported that 20 incidents were "positively identified" as e-scooter and e-bike fires originating in homes in Lewisham last year.
Fatal incident and campaign launch
Speaking to Lewisham Council's Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee on July 2, St Cdr Watts stated: "Since late 2024, there have been at least five high-profile incidents with multiple serious injuries, and unfortunately including a fatality of a 12-year-old boy within the borough." The incident referred to is the death of Fabian Henry, 12, who died after a fire broke out at his home in Orchard Gardens, Lewisham, shortly before midnight on July 8, 2025.
St Cdr Watts emphasised the need to raise awareness about safe charging, storage, and use of e-scooters and e-bikes. He noted that in high-rise properties, residents often charge devices in communal areas to avoid individual electricity meter charges, increasing fire risks. Adapted vehicles and incorrect chargers have also led to fires, with some cases producing jets of flames from scooters and bikes.
Two-month awareness campaign
LFB, supported by the council, will launch a two-month campaign starting July 20. The initiative aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries by promoting safety through educational settings, social media, the council's website, and events at Lewisham, Deptford, and Catford markets. LFB also plans to host informative 'drop-in days' at fire stations across Lewisham and at the Town Hall.
Hotspots and safety advice
When asked by Cllr Kim Powell about fire hotspots, St Cdr Watts indicated that incidents were spread across the borough in 2025, but data showed a higher occurrence in high-rise residential premises and social housing. He provided safety advice for owners: "Only buy and use e-bikes and e-scooters from recognised sellers, make sure they're e-marked [and have] appropriate chargers for the batteries. Don't charge these in your hallways, always make sure there is one door separation between where you are and your escape route should there be a fire. Make sure you've got heat alarms rather than just smoke alarms in the room where the bikes are being charged and don't charge them overnight when you're asleep or when you're not in the property."
