London Fire Brigade urges Londoners to sign petition for regulation of e-bikes, batteries and chargers

 From London Fire Brigade

 

The London Fire Brigade is backing a petition from the friends and family of 21-year-old Londoner Sofia Duarte who died just over one year ago. Sofia lost her life in a fatal fire on Old Kent Road in Southwark, caused by the catastrophic failure of a lithium battery used to charge an e-bike on New Year’s Day 2023. The petition calls for urgent action from the Government to implement regulations on e-bikes, e-scooters, and the batteries and chargers sold with them.  

The petition, created in tribute to Sofia by family friend Alda Simoes and Sofia’s mother, Maria Frasquilho Macarro, calls on all Londoners to sign it.  Alda and Maria say they aim to channel their grief into preventing more people losing their lives. Since creating the petition last month, over 32,000 signatures have been collected in support of tighter rules. Electrical Safety First also welcomes the petition. The charity is also pushing for regulatory change with a Ten Minute Rule Bill expected to be tabled by Yvonne Fovargue MP in the first part of this year. 

 

 Sophia Duarte

 

Alda is demanding action urgently, she said: “We don’t want Sofia to die in vain, sadly deaths are continuing to happen. Sign this petition and tell everyone you know to sign it. Sofia was the first death in London due to an e-bike fire. Tragically others have lost their lives up and down the UK, and there are many who have suffered serious injuries too. We must stop this happening today, not tomorrow. Sign the petition – it will save lives and make a difference! Together we can make change.”    

As Sofia’s mother Maria marks her only daughter’s birthday on January 11th, she too urgesd people to support the petition. Maria said: “This matters so much to me because the most important thing in my whole world has been taken away – all because of some stupid bike. In honour of Sofia’s memory and the others who have sadly lost their lives too, sign the petition today!”   

The petition can be signed here:  https://www.change.org/Sofia-Duarte   

London fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters went up almost 60% in 2023

 

London Fire Brigade data shows that fires involving e-bike and e-scooter batteries are London's fastest growing fire trend and on average there was a fire every two days in 2023. Last year the total number of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters went up almost 60% compared to 2022*. Public polling by the Brigade shows the proportion of Londoners aware of e-bike and e-scooter fires increased by a third since the launch of its #ChargeSafe campaign in March 2023 to almost six in ten people (58%) in September.     

 

The Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: “We’re warning people that cheaper parts bought online are more likely to be unsafe, increasing the risk of a fire. We always recommend purchasing items from a reputable high-street seller. If there’s an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is. It’s also essential to use the correct charger for the battery, otherwise the risk of fire is much greater. 

 

“The Office for Product Safety and Standards are undertaking research into e-bike fires, but the outcomes from this research need to be released as soon as possible.  Conversion kits for e-bikes are a real area of concern for us and there is a need to understand the safety of the product, and whether any specific standards need to be introduced. Along with conversion kits, batteries and chargers also require much-needed legislation to ensure these products are more strictly regulated.”    

 

Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience, Fiona Twycross, said: “Sofia’s death was a tragedy that should never have happened. I’m proud to support the tireless campaigning of her family and friends to ensure this tragedy is not repeated.  

 

“With the growing popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters, I continue to call on the Government to urgently introduce a long overdue regulatory framework to improve safety. I also urge Londoners to follow the vital safety advice provided by London Fire Brigade’s #Chargesafe campaign which is helping to keep Londoners safe.” 

 

Lorber challenges council on potential grassland fires in Brent as Fire Brigade issues urgent warning

Former councillor Paul Lorber has called on Brent Council to make a risk assessment of potential grassland fires in Brent as a result of the Council's 'no mowing' policy in areas of the borough's parks.

His call follows fires near Heathrow Airport and on Wanstead flats LINK and a warning from the London Fire Brigade:

 Lorber said:

I really hope that the Council is ready to prevent this kind of situation arising in Brent. If not the grass cutting and removal of tall grass from Parks and Open Spaces Policy needs to be urgently reviewed and changed.

Councillors and the public needs to be advised on the risks being created and how the Council will respond and take action to protect local people.

The London Fire Brigade's statement issued this morning said:

The London Fire Brigade has today issued an urgent safety warning following the largest grass fire in its history and a series of other grass fires across the capital. Firefighters are concerned that there will be further incidents if the public doesn’t take greater care during the heatwave.

London Fire Commissioner, Dany Cotton, said:

This weekend we dealt with the largest grass fire in our history, as well as a range of other serious fires on grassland. The ground is extremely dry at the moment and grassland and parks will act like a tinderbox when exposed to even the smallest of sparks.

I never thought I’d say this but we are praying for rain.

We are calling on the public to take steps to prevent grass fires: don’t drop cigarettes or matches on dry ground or out of car windows; don’t have barbecues on dry grass or parks and don’t leave glass bottles out as they can concentrate the sun’s rays and start a blaze.

Grass fires spread like lightening so if you see dry grass smouldering, please call 999 and report it immediately so that firefighters can deal with it and stop it from spreading.

The Wanstead blaze, which was so extensive it can be defined as a wildfire, broke out on grassland at 16:05 on Sunday (15 July) at Wanstead Flats, close to Epping Forest in east London. At the height of the fire, over 100 hectares of grass was alight, which is roughly the same size as 100 football pitches.

Over 220 firefighters from fire stations across London attended, with over 40 fire engines at the scene at the height of the incident. Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters remain at the scene today (Monday 16 July) to saturate the area and ensure the fire is under control. Fires on peatland can present a challenge as the fire can travel below ground. Crews are expected to be on scene for a number of hours.

Grass fires this weekend

• Fifteen fire engines and 100 firefighters attended a large grass fire in Feltham on Saturday afternoon
• Fifteen fire engines attended a grass fire in Ockendon in Essex on Sunday, London Fire Brigade sent three engines to assist Essex crews
• Four fire engines attended a grass fire in Woodford Green on Sunday afternoon
• Five engines attended a grass fire in Richmond last night

Summer nature activities at the Welsh Harp Centre