Firefighters have issued a reminder of their lithium battery safety advice after a house was partially destroyed in South London.
The brigade said they were called to the fire at 7.12pm on Tuesday evening (15/08/2023) on Donnybrook Road in Streatham Vale.
Fire caused damage to the ground and first floors of a mid-terraced house and completely destroyed a loft conversion.
There were no reports of any injuries.
The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a lithium battery pack that was on charge.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
“You should unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.
“Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged too.
“Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as spares as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.”
The Brigade was called at 1912 and fire was extinguished by 2039.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Norbury, West Norwood, Tooting and Mitcham fire stations attended the scene.
