London’s Fire Commissioner Andy Roe has issued a New Year’s message drawing attention to the dangers of e-bike batteries

The message, issued on 1st January also addresses recommendations from the first phase of the Grenfell Inquiry and heralds new kit and training for the capital’s fire fighters.

The Fire Commissioner’s message reads in full:

“From all of us at London Fire Brigade (LFB) I hope you enjoyed a happy and safe Christmas. Thousands of firefighters, control officers and colleagues in our support services were working over the holiday period and I must thank them for their dedicated service.

“Looking back over the last year we saw new risks emerge as we continued to deliver change to LFB to make it the world class service Londoners deserve.”

#ChargeSafe and the risk of lithium batteries

“Tragically we started 2023 with the death of 21 year old Londoner Sofia Duarte who sadly died in an e-bike battery fire.

“I am grateful to Sofia’s family and friends for supporting our #ChargeSafe campaign. Sofia’s story was the focus of our campaign when it launched in March and I pay tribute to her family and friends for their determination and resolve in raising awareness about the dangers of batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters.

“Fires involving e-bike and e-scooter batteries are London’s fastest growing fire trend and on average there was a fire every two days in 2023. Throughout the year, the Brigade continued to raise awareness of the risk of these fires and public polling shows the proportion of Londoners aware of e-bike and e-scooter fires has increased by a third since our campaign began to almost six in ten people (58%) in September 2023.

“In 2024, we will continue our campaign and push for regulatory changes to better protect Londoners, working with the Home Office, Electrical Safety First and the Office for Product Safety and Standards.”

Delivering recommendations

“While calling for change outside the Brigade, we’ve also been focused on delivering change within our organisation. Importantly, this year we will complete the last remaining recommendations made to LFB from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The fire at Grenfell Tower was a tragedy that will never be forgotten and we stand ready to act when the phase two report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is published later this year. We owe it to those who died, survivors and the local community to make sure that nothing like it ever happens again.

“At the same time we are also delivering significant change in relation to the findings of the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

“Supported by the Mayor of London, firefighters will soon have new, integrated radios and breathing apparatus. Our new Command Units will provide incident commanders with better information to manage incidents and we will continue to deliver an ambitious programme of training and alongside the provision of innovative protective equipment I thank my colleagues for their perseverance, determination and energy as these improvements are introduced.”

Improving for London

“We have been making improvements throughout the services we provide. We transformed home fire safety visits for the most vulnerable in London by prioritising high risk groups to be contacted within four hours. Alongside these visits, our Home Fire Safety Checker is available for everyone, providing bespoke advice for individual homes, and has been used by more people this past year than in 2022.

“This was a key focus for His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services when we were last fully inspected at the end of 2021 and I look forward to our next full inspection in 2024.

“In 2023, we also introduced new kit and training to help tackle wildfires, following our summer 2022 review and recognising the increased risk from extreme weather as a result of the climate emergency. Our two high-tech river boats Tanner and Errington are also now fully operational and responding to incidents on the River Thames.

“Many of these developments will roll into 2024, particularly our work to improve our workplace culture. Last year we rolled out new training for managers and leaders, and launched our new values: service, integrity, teamwork, equity, courage and learning. You can read more about our values here.

“London Fire Brigade has been evolving and improving to better support the communities we serve. 2024 will be no different. As London Fire Commissioner, I’m dedicated to continuing this journey with energy and passion so that we can be trusted to serve and protect our capital.

Happy New Year.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.