Erith: Cat dies after lithium battery causes house fire

A cat has died in a house fire caused by a lithium battery.

A woman and her teenage son were treated at the scene of the blaze, on Jenningtree Road in Erith in south-east London, after suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Four people managed to escape from the property before firefighters arrived, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. Crews managed to rescue another cat.

Half of the first floor and part of the ground floor were destroyed.

LFB said the blaze was believed to have been caused by a "catastrophic failure of lithium batteries".

A spokesperson said: "Fires involving lithium batteries, which power devices, can be ferocious, producing jets of flame. The blaze is also hot enough to melt through metal.

"This type of fire produces a highly flammable, explosive and toxic vapour cloud which should never be inhaled.

"It is also important to ensure that you buy your batteries from a reputable seller and to ensure you are using the correct charger for the batteries."