Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a house fire on Mount Pleasant Road in New Malden on Saturday (22 August).

The ground floor and first floor were completely destroyed by fire and half of the roof was damaged in the two storey semi-detached house.

A car port in the front garden was also destroyed in the blaze.

Additionally, one gas cylinder was removed from the scene and cooled to an ambient temperature as a precaution, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.

An adjoining shed in a neighbouring property was completely destroyed by fire and a small part of the house was also damaged.

According to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), no injuries were reported.

Station Commander Steve McGhie, who was at the scene, said: "The fire was producing smoke that affected the local area - residents nearby were advised to keep their windows and doors closed where possible.

"One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders was deployed as a water tower, allowing crews to tackle the flames from above."

LFB's 999 Control officers received the first of 24 calls alerting them to the fire at 9.36pm on Saturday.

They mobilised fire crews from Surbiton, Kingston, Sutton, Wimbledon and surrounding fire stations. The fire was under control by 1am.

It is believed the cause of the fire was due to the catastrophic failure of a lithium battery pack used for an e-bike.

An LFB spokesperson said: "This incident highlights the importance of working smoke alarms and heat detection.

"Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts and we would urge everyone to make sure they have one fitted in every room where a fire can start except kitchens or bathrooms where heat alarms are more appropriate.

"In London, we have been attending a fire, on average every other day involving an e-bike or e-scooter.

"Last year, we saw a record number of fires [206] and this is why we urge those who own one of these vehicles, or are thinking about purchasing one, to take a look at our #ChargeSafe advice to help keep themselves and those around them safe.

"It's also important not to overcharge and to unplug the charger once it's completed charging. Never charge an e-bike or e-scooter unattended or whilst you're sleeping."

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