London bus driver's home 'destroyed in less than 10 minutes' by fire gives Black Friday safety warning

A London bus driver who's New Malden was completely destroyed in only 10 minutes after a devastating house fire has given a stark warning to London shoppers this Black Friday.

Bus driver Don Hettiarachchi, 49, lost everything when his son's second-hand converted e-bike burst into flames while charging in the family's conservatory in September. The incident left the family traumatised, forcing them to spend a month in emergency accommodation and take time off work due to stress.

He said: "My whole house was destroyed in less than ten minutes by an exploding battery. For anyone thinking of buying a bargain this Black Friday, my advice is to really do your homework before you buy."

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Don said he works night shifts and when he heard the smoke alarm, he initially thought it was some car alarms in the street outside. But when he went to have a look, he found the whole of the bottom floor of his home filled with smoke. He woke his wife and son and they escaped outside.

Don added: “The e-bike was bought second hand by my son, and he’d been using it for about two months. It had been charging for over five hours and was on charge at the time of the fire. It was always charged in the conservatory.

“My wife is still suffering from shock at the moment. We both went to the doctor and took a month off work due to the stress. We stayed in emergency accommodation that the Council provided because our home was inhabitable.

“My house insurance expired in the summer. My father-in-law was ill and due to being preoccupied with his illness, I missed paying the house insurance renewal - we lost everything in the fire.

“For anyone thinking of buying a bargain this Black Friday, my advice is to really do your homework before you buy. Make sure the e-bike battery and the charger are compatible with one another. Make sure you buy from a reputable seller that you know and trust.

“Never leave them on charge unattended, in particular overnight, as you need to react should anything go wrong. Don’t think it won’t happen to you because it happened to us and my whole house was destroyed in less than ten minutes by an exploding battery.”

His warning comes as new research by Electrical Safety First and the London Fire Brigade reveals alarming consumer trends. One in five Londoners surveyed said they would consider purchasing an e-bike, e-scooter, or conversion kit during Black Friday sales, with over half planning to shop through online marketplaces.

The London Fire Brigade is now warning that third-party sellers often bypass crucial safety regulations, increasing fire risks.

London Fire Brigade’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention & Protection, Richard Field said: “We understand that people are trying to save money, but if you spot a deal this week that looks too be good to be true, it probably is.

“When shopping from third-party sellers via online marketplaces or auction sites, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters compared to buying from high street shops, so you can’t be confident that your purchases will meet the correct safety standards.

“We are urging anyone looking to buy an e-bike or e-scooter, or the batteries, chargers or conversion kits, do so from a reputable seller.”

The Brigade is now called to an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day in London. Conversion kits pose a special risk, with experts highlighting the dangers of incompatible chargers and poor installation.

The London Fire Brigade's #ChargeSafe campaign is now seeking regulatory changes to prevent poor-quality batteries and chargers from being sold online. They advise consumers to:

• Buy from reputable sellers

• Ensure battery and charger compatibility

• Store e-bikes in sheds or well-ventilated areas

• Never charge unattended

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