Croydon FReelands Avenue fire leaves woman in hospital

Freelands Avenue in Croydon <i>(Image: Google)</i>
Freelands Avenue in Croydon (Image: Google)
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A woman is in hospital after a house fire in Croydon.

The blaze heavily damaged the first floor of a mid-terrace house on Freelands Avenue in Croydon at around 3pm yesterday (April 22).

One woman was taken to hospital by paramedics.

The fire is believed to have been accidentally caused by the failure of a lithium ion battery in a power bank.

25 firefighters from Croydon, Purley, Woodside and Wallington fire stations put out the flames by 3.45pm.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Lithium batteries are susceptible to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s important to always use the correct charger for the product and buy an official one from a reputable seller.  

“You should unplug your charger when you have finished using it and we would advise not to leave it unattended or charging while people are asleep.  

“Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged too.  

“Try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried as this can increase the chance of damage to cells.”

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