A child and nine adults have escaped a house fire in Woolwich, caused by a failed e-bike battery.

The fire broke out at a mid-terraced house in Sandy Hill Road at 6am on October 12.

One child and seven adults were able to escape before emergency services arrived.

Two more people were rescued from a rear roof using a short extension ladder.

Several people in the house were later taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Most of the ground floor and the staircase of the two-storey house was damaged by fire.

A part of the first floor was also damaged.

The fire is being treated as accidental and believed to have been caused by the failure of lithium batteries in a converted e-bike.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “This was a destructive fire that thankfully no one was seriously hurt by.

“The fire, which is believed to have originated from a converted e-bike, spread rapidly and is another example of the dangers these devices can pose, particularly in the home, with e-bikes becoming one of London’s fastest-growing fire risks.

“So far in 2024, we have recorded more than 130 fires involving an e-bike or e-scooter.

“E-bikes and e-scooters can be a great and sustainable way to travel around our city but they must be used safely otherwise the risk of a fire increases.

"Converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be very dangerous.

“They can pose a higher risk of fire. Get a professional or competent person to carry out the conversion and make sure to buy a battery from a reputable seller and that it is not second-hand. 

"When charging your e-bike or e-scooter or the batteries for them, 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 and don't charge it on an escape route, such as in a hallway. Instead, charge or store the device outdoors or in a shed.

“If this is not possible, make sure the device is in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire and that you have smoke detection fitted."

The fire was brought under control just after 7.20am.