A raging inferno ripped through a block of flats in west London after an overcharged e-bike battery caught alight.
Residents in Hanwell evacuated themselves at 6pm on July 19 after spotting the blaze from their windows.
Footage showed the balcony of a flat totally destroyed by the fire and clouds of grey smoke billowing upwards.
Neighbours stopped outside to stare as the blaze took over the flat, while others shouted from their own balconies at people trying to go in.
As the building went up in flames, concerned residents in a neighbouring block told people to ‘get out’ and warned them the e-bike ‘can explode anytime’.
Some residents say they’ve been left traumatised by the incident – after having a ‘lucky escape.’
The resident who filmed the footage, 46-year-old journalist Artur Kieruzal, said: ‘People who lived in the block opposite saw the fire from their windows.
‘At first, people thought it was just fireworks – because it sounded exactly the same.
A raging inferno ripped through a block of flats in Hanwell, west London after an overcharged e-bike battery caught alight
Footage showed the balcony of a flat totally destroyed by the fire and clouds of grey smoke billowing upwards while locals stood and watched on in horror
As the building went up in flames, concerned residents in a neighbouring block told people to ‘get out’ and warned them the e-bike ‘can explode anytime’
‘They were shocked to see the e-bike battery had literally exploded.’
People who lived in the block of flats, including a 44-year-old mother-of-two, immediately evacuated themselves.
The mother, who does not wish to be named, said: ‘We heard an explosion that sounded like fireworks.
‘My son [11] ran out to me and said: ‘The house is burning.’
‘I went out onto the terrace and saw thick, black smoke – my husband [44] and I grabbed our children and ran.
‘We’re on the fourth floor – we couldn’t see through the smoke, and we had to make our way down four flights of stairs with children aged six and 11.
‘We thought we could be engulfed in flames at any moment, so we shouted: ‘Fire, fire, everybody get out,’ to our neighbours.’
After evacuating the building, the heroic couple went back in to help vulnerable residents out.
Some residents say they’ve been left traumatised by the incident – after having a ‘lucky escape’ from the burning building
The blaze completely ripped through the home with the fire leaping out of the flat and engulfing the balcony as well as licking at the flats above
‘My husband went back in – and re-emerged with an unconscious man in his arms,’ the mother-of-two added.
‘I left the children with onlookers, and went back inside to alert more people.’
The London Fire Brigade confirmed the source of the blaze to be an e-bike battery after putting it out.
Artur claims three families needed to be relocated after their flats sustained smoke damage.
He said: ‘The hall flats are a little bit destroyed – three flats were affected very badly, and the families have needed to relocate.
‘Nobody sleeps now – everyone is in shock.
‘Even my flat has been affected, the smell of smoke is awful and I can’t do anything about it.’
The aftermath showed three burnt out flats with the interior gutted by the blaze.
The aftermath showed three burnt out flats with the interior gutted by the blaze and blackened, smoke-damaged household items strewn over the courtyard
Pictures showed firefighters inspecting the damage and ensuring the flats were safe but the balconies were blackened with smoke and burnt household items such as a microwave and lamp had been thrown on the courtyard below.
The London Fire Brigade have confirmed no injuries were reported – but say the blaze started after an e-bike battery was overcharged with an incorrect charger.
It issued a new warning for e-bike users after the incident.
The residents credited the ‘amazing’ London Fire Brigade for attending the scene quickly and extinguishing the fire within an hour.
A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade 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 is vital that you do not store or charge the device on an escape route such as a hallway.
‘When charging your e-bike or e-scooter, make sure you are using the correct charger.
‘Mismatching the charger increases the risk of fire.
‘It’s also important not to overcharge and to unplug the charger once it’s completed charging.
‘Never charge an e-bike or e-scooter unattended or whilst you’re sleeping.
‘If you’re converting your bike from a pushbike into an e-bike, make sure you get a professional or competent person to carry out the conversion.
‘We encourage anyone who owns an e-bike or e-scooter, or is thinking about purchasing one, to take a look at all of our £ChargeSafe advice on our website to help keep themselves and those around them safer from these types of fires.’
