A family’s house was destroyed due to fire in the battery of an e-bike.

A “catastrophic” e-bike battery explosion has destroyed a family’s home just days before Christmas, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.

The fire service has warned that e-bikes can be “incredibly dangerous” after a fire broke out in Renshaw Close, Catford, south-east London, on 14 December.

The LFB said the e-bike had been converted from a conventional pedal bicycle by installing a battery pack and was being charged at the time of the fire.

Doorbell camera footage showed how quickly the house went up in flames. One occupant had to escape through the front door, and two others climbed to the roof through a skylight in the converted loft.

The LFB said the fire damaged most of the first floor of the house and destroyed the roof and the e-bike was purchased from an online marketplace.

A man fell from the roof and was seriously injured, while a woman slipped but was caught by a firefighter, and was later treated for smoke inhalation.

LFB Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Field described the fire as “devastating” and said it was “fortunate that no lives were lost”.

He added: “We have seen almost 160 e-bike and e-scooter fires in London this year and this incident highlights the dangers posed by e-bikes and e-scooters.

“E-bikes are one of the fastest growing fire hazards in London, with an average of one fire occurring every second day.

“If you’re planning to buy an e-bike or e-scooter for yourself or a loved one for Christmas and you see an offer online that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. “

In June, a coroner called for government action after the death of a man in Bristol whose home caught fire after an e-bike battery pack overheated and ignited.

Also in June, a Cambridge man called for urgent e-bike safety measures, a year after his partner and two children died in a fire.

Leslie Rudd, chief executive of the charity Electrical Safety First, said: “Batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters can cause devastating fires if they have been modified, damaged, incorrectly charged or defective. Built to standard.

“The risks associated with these devices mean it has never been more important to stick to a reputable high street retailer to ensure the device you are bringing into your home is safe.”

In October, the Department of Business and Trade launched a campaign calling on people to purchase only safe electrical products from reputable vendors.