Rise in house fires blamed on cheap e-bike mods

Firefighters say accidental fires in homes have increased from 39 to 45 in the last three months

Firefighters are warning against the use of pedal bike to e-bike conversion kits after recording an increasing number of fires caused by e-bike batteries.

These kits often contravene rules around power – and therefore the speed e-bike riders are capable of without pedalling.

But there is a fear that the kits - which cost as little as £150 - also contravene safety laws.

At a recent meeting a member of the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority's local performance and scrutiny committee firefighters blamed lithium batteries from counterfeit e-bike kits for causing "catastrophic" explosions in homes.

At the meeting, councillors were told accidental fires in the home had increased to 45 in the last three months from 39 in the previous quarter.

"We recommend people buying e-bikes and e-scooters, chargers, and batteries do so from reputable retailers," a spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Many fires involve counterfeit electrical goods. Items which don't meet British or European standards pose a huge fire risk and while genuine chargers – or battery packs – may cost more, it's not worth putting your life at risk and potentially destroying your home by buying a fake charger to save a few pounds.

"On occasion, there is a risk that batteries can fail catastrophically, explode, or lead to a rapidly developing fire."

E-bike owners are also urged not to charge batteries overnight, and not to charge them in areas where a fire may prevent people getting out of a building – like communal hallways in apartment blocks.

The government has published new statutory guidelines for businesses producing and distributing lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, as the latest step in tackling fires caused by unsafe e-bikes and associated products.

"Take particular care if buying from online auctions or fulfilment platforms. Also be aware that if buying separate components, you should check that they are compatible," they added.