A woman has sustained serious injuries after jumping from a third-floor balcony to escape a fire involving an e-bike battery.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:15 BST on Sunday at a residential property on Reculver Road, Lewisham, in south-east London.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) reports that the fire is believed to have been caused by a catastrophic failure of an e-bike battery that had been charging in the hallway of the flat for around 12 hours. Firefighters rescued a man from the property, who was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Field said: "This incident highlights why you should always ensure your escape route is clear and why we recommend to never charge your e-bike or e-scooter on your means of escape, such as a hallway or by your front door."

He added: "Although working smoke alarms helped alert the occupants quickly to this fire, a woman found herself trapped inside a bedroom with smoke travelling in.

"She decided to go out onto the balcony and jump to the ground, three storeys high.

"She has unfortunately sustained a quite serious injury due to the fall and we wish her well in her recovery."

E-bike battery fires continue to present a growing risk. In London alone, 206 such incidents were recorded last year, with more than 30 already reported in 2026.

Lithium-ion batteries can fail if they are overheated, damaged, overcharged, or subjected to impact. Such failures may lead to rapid fire development and, in some cases, explosion.

To reduce the risk, LFB advises purchasing batteries and chargers from reputable suppliers, avoiding the use of incompatible charging equipment, and never leaving batteries charging unattended or overnight.

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