Dad dies after e-bike battery pack caused fire like a ‘rocket hit his house and blew up’
A DAD has died after an e-bike battery pack caused a fire – with neighbours saying it was like a “rocket hit his house and blew up”.
Firefighters scrambled to a home in Kentish Town, North London after getting 13 calls from terrified locals.
Ten fire engines and 70 crew took two-and-a-half hours to put out the early-morning blaze.
The fire completely destroyed the family home – with a man losing his life.
Neighbour Billy Corrol told MyLondon: “When you see it, it’s like a rocket has just hit a house and blew up.
“That’s the damage it’s caused. That house is totally gone.”
After the fire at 7am on July 6, the London Fire Brigade said: “Sadly, a man has died following a flat fire on Woodyard Close in Kentish Town.
“Most of the ground and first floors of a mid-terraced house converted into flats were alight.
“Five people left the building before the fire crews arrived.
“Firefighters found a man on the ground floor of the property, who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“The Brigade’s 999 control officers took 13 calls to the blaze.
“The brigade was called at 6.56am and the fire was under control by 9.22am.
“Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters from Kentish Town, Euston, Hornsey, Soho and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
“Our fire investigators believe the most probable cause of the fire is due to a lithium battery pack failure, that was charging an e-bike.”
The man’s family is now living with relatives after the blaze made them homeless.
Surrounding homes were also damaged by the fire, with locals clubbing together to raise funds for everyone affected.