In our new series, we hear from housing providers involved in major news events to understand how they handled difficult situations and what lessons have been learned.
Here, Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, explains how a fire in a Salford tower block prompted the housing association to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers posed by e-bikes and e-scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries.
It was shortly after 8 am on the day after Boxing Day when the call came through.
As the CEO of a social housing provider with 19 tower blocks in Salford, it’s the phone call you always fear: one of our blocks were on fire.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) were at the scene at Mulberry Court in Pendleton within minutes, as smoke and flames billowed from a 10th-floor window. At the height of the incident were six fire engines and dozens of firefighters.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. Several floors were safely evacuated, and crews successfully extinguished the fire, containing it to the flat where it started.
Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Salix Homes has carried out extensive building and fire safety improvements across all our tower blocks in Salford. No one ever wants to test these fire safety measures in a real-life situation; however, this was the ultimate test and, fortunately, the building performed as it should. Thanks to the sterling efforts of the fire service and the building’s safety measures, including the early warning alarm system which alerted the fire service directly, the fire didn’t spread.
However, the cause of the fire presents a new and growing risk for housing associations and our residents: it was started by a faulty e-bike battery that had been charging in the bedroom.
Last year, GMFRS attended 14 fires that had been sparked by e-bikes and e-scooters, an increase from eight in 2021 and three in 2020.
E-bikes and e-scooters are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs. These batteries are used safely in everyday devices that most of us own – watches, laptops, and mobile phones.
“The ferocity at which these lithium battery fires take hold and the devastation caused is alarming. It’s a not a slow burn – they literally explode and burn ferociously, reigniting as they go. This incident caused £90,000 damage at our tower block”
The problems arise in non-standard or faulty batteries, which aren’t being charged safely. They’re a major fire risk when over-charged, short-circuited or damaged, and when they do catch fire, the consequences can be deadly: across the UK, eight people have been killed in an e-bike and e-scooter-related fires.
E-bikes and e-scooters are soaring in popularity – they’re a cheaper and greener mode of transport, and we’re seeing more of our tenants own and use them.
We’ve recently launched an e-bike safety campaign for our residents in Salford to warn them of the potential dangers and provide guidance to ensure they’re being used and charged safely and responsibly.
Our guidance includes not charging them while you’re sleeping, never blocking your escape route with the bike, and only buying from reputable manufacturers.
As part of the campaign, we’ve shared pictures of the fire-damaged flat to help highlight the potential dangers. The images are shocking and quite sobering, with just the charred remains of a metal bed frame still visible.
The ferocity at which these lithium battery fires take hold and the devastation caused is alarming. It’s not a slow burn – they literally explode and burn ferociously, reigniting as they go. This incident caused £90,000 in damage at our tower block.
Most e-bikes and e-scooters on the market in the UK bought from reputable manufacturers meet stringent safety regulations – but many safety issues are arising from converter kits, which are non-standard lithium-ion battery packs designed to convert a standard bike to an e-bike. There are growing concerns about these converters kits sold cheaply online, which don’t meet UK safety regulations and present an increased fire risk.
Ultimately, stronger regulation is needed on their sale and use, but until then it’s paramount that housing associations, and other landlords, warn residents about the potential dangers and help make sure they’re taking the necessary steps to ensure they’re not putting people’s lives or homes at risk.
You can find out more about Salix Homes’ e-bike safety campaign on our website.
