Fire at Hanwell Flat Linked to E-Bike Battery
Forty firefighters tackle blaze on Jasper Avenue
The Fire Brigade had the blaze under control within an hour. Picture: London Fire Brigade
July 21, 2025
A fire at a flat in Jasper Avenue, Hanwell, on Saturday evening (20 July) is believed to have been caused by a faulty e-bike battery.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Ealing, Southall, Acton and Heston stations were called to the scene at 6:09pm, following multiple emergency calls. Crews brought the fire under control within an hour.
Half of a first-floor flat in a residential block was damaged by the blaze, with some additional fire damage reported in a second-floor property. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire involved an e-bike, and the battery is thought to have failed due to overcharging and the use of an incompatible charger, according to the London Fire Brigade.
A Brigade spokesperson said, “If you own an e-bike or e-scooter, there are a number of things you can do to help keep yourself and those around you safe.
“It’s vital that you do not store or charge the device on an escape route, such as a hallway. We’ve seen cases where people have had to jump from windows or be rescued because their only escape route was blocked by fire or smoke.
“If it’s not possible to store the bike outside or in a garage, keep it in a room where you can shut the door in the event of a fire.
“When charging, always use the correct charger, unplug it once charging is complete, and never leave the bike charging overnight or unattended.
“If you’re converting a pedal bike into an e-bike, ensure the work is done by a competent professional.”
The previous week saw a fire involving an e-scooter battery in Noel Road in Acton from which a man had to escape through a window.
The Brigade is urging all e-bike and e-scooter users to follow its #ChargeSafe guidance, which is available on the London Fire Brigade website.
Safety tips from London Fire Brigade for e-bike and e-scooter users to follow
- Never block your escape route with anything, including e-bikes and e-scooters. Store them somewhere away from a main through route. Our advice is to store these items in a safe external location if possible, such as a garage or a shed.
- Always use the correct charger and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
- Do not attempt to modify or tamper with your battery. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be very dangerous. They pose a higher risk of fire. Get a professional to carry out the conversion and make sure to buy a battery from a reputable seller and that it is not second-hand.
- Check your battery and charger meets UK safety standards. LFB has particular concern where batteries have been purchased from online marketplaces and when they've been sourced on the internet, which may not meet the correct safety standards.
- Watch out for signs that the battery or charger aren’t working as they should – e.g. if the battery is hot to the touch or has changed shape.
- Let the battery cool before charging. Batteries can get warm during their use and it is advisable to allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge as they could be more susceptible to failure if overheated. If you are charging batteries indoors, follow LFB advice on safe charging.
- Unplug your charger once it’s finished charging. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions when charging and we would advise not to leave it unattended or while people are asleep.
- Fit alarms where you charge. Ensure you have smoke alarms fitted in areas where e-bikes or e-scooters are being charged and make sure they are tested regularly. You can quickly and easily check your home by visiting the Fire Brigade's free online home fire safety checker tool
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |