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E‑Bike Battery Explosion Destroys Mitcham Home, Leaving Family Homeless

The blaze highlights a rise in e‑bike battery fires in London, with officials warning the city could exceed 200 incidents this year.

Overview

  • The mother reported a strong nail‑varnish‑remover smell before the lithium‑ion battery failed and the bike exploded in the living room.
  • Her son Che, 20, escaped by jumping from an upstairs window as flames raced through the house, and the family evacuated to safety.
  • The fire spread rapidly without a door between the living room and hallway, and six engines with about 40 firefighters fought the blaze for nearly six hours.
  • Reports say gas pipes by the front door complicated the incident, and a firefighter told the family a hallway door could have slowed the spread.
  • The property has been left uninhabitable and is reported to be slated for demolition, while the family stays at a Premier Inn and receives community support including five beds donated by AFC Wimbledon and a public fundraiser.