A flat fire that is believed to have been caused by a lithium-ion battery was attended by ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters this week.

The fire was located in a three-bedroom flat on the 10th floor of a residential 15-floor block in Plaistow, London.

The flat’s interior and balcony were both destroyed and balconies on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th floors, directly above the fire, were also heavily damaged by flames.

Three men left the flat before the London Fire Brigade arrived, and two were treated on the scene by the London Ambulance Service. Around 30 people were evacuated from the building, with firefighters carrying out a systematic search of the affected floors. There were no reports of any further injuries.

The LFB’s fire investigation team believe the fire was started accidentally, caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery.

The LBF recommends the following precautions to lower the risk of lithium-ion battery fires:

• Reduce the risk of overheating
• Batteries can get warm during their use. Allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge
• Batteries should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate
• Batteries can also pose a risk if they have been damaged, so try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried. Do not continue to use a damaged battery
• Batteries should also never be exposed to extremes of temperature.
• Keep an eye out for warning signs that your battery might be failing and becoming a fire risk.