An electric car exploded while charging in a kitchen in Harlesden

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has released two videos showing the explosion on Cecil Road on Saturday (May 13).

The fire started when security guard Dale Williams was charging an e-scooter he bought two weeks ago on Gumtree.

A few seconds after the explosion, the kitchen of the house was filled with flames and smoke.

Neither Dell nor the other tenants who live in the house were near the kitchen when the explosion occurred.

The 37-year-old said: “I just want to thank the Lord that we managed to get out of there safe and sound. I am so thankful to be alive.

“I spent eight hours in the hospital due to smoke inhalation from the fire.

“When I came back to the house, it was an eye-opener.

“I was shocked, I am still shocked. I am very thankful that no one else was hurt. I cheated death.’

He added: “Don’t have e-scooters in the house. Charging on the street.”

LFB Deputy Commissioner Dom Ellis said this type of fire was becoming more common.

He said: “As the video shows, when the battery starts to run away, the fire will develop very quickly and can block escape routes.

“Thermal runaway can destroy the battery and cause a massive fire.

“We know that prior to ignition, thermal acceleration can lead to the release of a number of gases. The white and gray smoke is not harmless, and the speed at which these incidents are evolving cannot be ignored.”

The brigade has been called to 48 e-bike and 12 electric scooter fires in London this year.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman told the House of Commons transport committee on Wednesday that e-scooter and electric bike fires were “an issue of serious concern” and the government was “working hard on it”.

He said: “We’ve had very few fires while testing (the e-scooters), but we’ve had some.

“Obviously there are wider reports and now there’s a fear about e-bikes.”

Users of e-scooters and e-bikes are advised to allow batteries to cool down before recharging and to purchase chargers and batteries from trusted retailers.

The LFB has also urged people to install smoke alarms in areas where charging takes place indoors.

Some PA reports.