Inside the ladder rescue at Norbury’s late-night e-bike fire
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said a new firefighter helped rescue a family during an e-bike fire in Norbury, south London, in late October.
The fire started in a ground floor communal hallway on London Road and left people trapped in second-floor flats, according to LFB.
Firefighters from Norbury Fire Station arrived two minutes after the first 999 call and prepared for a ladder rescue, LFB said.
Firefighter Zekel Johnson, on his fourth day after completing training, was among the second crew on scene.
Johnson climbed a 13.5 metre ladder and helped three children from a second-floor window, LFB confirmed.
Four adults were also assisted down by ladder, and two further adults escaped via a rear window, LFB said.
LFB said nine people were assessed on scene by London Ambulance Service for smoke inhalation and did not require hospital treatment.
First-hand accounts from the scene
Firefighter Zekel Johnson said: “When I arrived, a ladder had just been pitched by Norbury’s crew.
“It also allows us to coordinate better with neighbouring services.
“The officer in charge said someone needed to go up the ladder immediately and I did not hesitate.”
Naveen Narayanasankar, a resident, said: “I had just finished work and returned home and was eating dinner in the kitchen when suddenly we heard a blast from downstairs.
“I opened the door and there was a lot of smoke already.
“The people downstairs were telling us there was a fire.
“Everyone in the flat woke up but there was so much smoke, we couldn’t see or breathe properly.
“We called the fire brigade and went to the window for help where firefighters helped rescue us.”
Johnson later entered the property in breathing apparatus to assist with extinguishing, LFB said.
Cause identified and safety advice
Following an investigation, LFB said the most probable cause was the catastrophic failure of a lithium-ion battery pack for a manufactured e-bike.
LFB said the e-bike had been stored in the hallway and the battery pack had reportedly been charging shortly before the fire.
Assistant Commissioner for Fire Stations, Andy Pennick, said: “Because the e-bike was being stored in the hallway, it compromised the occupants’ ability to escape the building when the fire broke out.
“It is vital that e-bikes and e-scooters are stored appropriately, so that in the event of a fire, the risk of harm to those inside can be significantly reduced because their escape route is not blocked.”
LFB recommends storing e-bikes and e-scooters outside, or in a shed or outbuilding, and if stored indoors, in a room where a door can be shut.
LFB said lithium-ion battery fires can be ferocious and produce a flammable, explosive and toxic vapour cloud.
LFB warned against mismatched or counterfeit chargers or batteries and advised against leaving devices charging unattended.
LFB added that smoke alarms should be fitted in areas where devices are charged and that conversions should be carried out by a professional.
Training, performance and record incident numbers
Assistant Commissioner Pennick said: “The exceptional actions of our crews at this incident ensured swift rescues and limited fire spread.
“It is rare for a firefighter to attend an incident of this significance so quickly into their career and I’d like to commend Firefighter Johnson for his assured and calm response to rescue this family.
“Our rigorous and improved training programme ensures that newly-qualified firefighters are best-prepared to respond to real emergencies as soon as they start at their station.”
LFB reported that London recorded 181 e-bike and e-scooter fires by the end of October 2025.
LFB said this is already the highest total for a single year.
LFB said four people have died in these fires since 2023 and more than 100 people have been injured.
Incident timeline and response details
LFB said the Brigade was called at 23:48 on Tuesday 28 October to a mixed-use property on London Road, Norbury.
LFB said seven people were rescued from a second-floor window by a 13.5 metre ladder.
Two people escaped via a rear window, LFB added.
Part of the ground floor was damaged by fire and the incident was under control by 00:43, according to LFB.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Norbury, West Norwood, Tooting and Croydon attended, LFB said.
Practical takeaways for operational leads and managers
The fire started in a communal hallway where an e-bike was stored and had reportedly been charging, which restricted escape routes for occupants.
LFB advises storing e-bikes and e-scooters outside or in an internal room that can be closed to contain a fire.
LFB instructs users to employ the correct, compatible charger and to avoid mismatched or counterfeit power components.
LFB recommends not charging unattended and unplugging chargers when the cycle is complete.
LFB says lithium-ion battery failures can produce an explosive and toxic vapour cloud, and crews reported unusually intense heat at this incident.
LFB advises installing smoke alarms in charging areas and checking for battery or charger faults such as heat or deformation.
London has recorded 181 e-bike and e-scooter fires by the end of October 2025, with four fatalities since 2023 and more than 100 injuries, according to LFB.