Incident Causes Brief Alarm but No Injuries Reported
An electric pedicab, commonly known as a rickshaw, unexpectedly caught fire outside Buckingham Palace on Spur Road, leading to a swift emergency response. Social media footage showed firefighters extinguishing the flames as passersby observed the dramatic scene. Witnesses described hearing popping sounds and a small explosion during the incident.
Greg Double, 35, from Fulham, who was walking near the area with his daughter, recounted, “There was a fire on the pavement about four feet high, making popping sounds. Fire and police were on the scene quickly and managed to put it out efficiently.” Despite initial speculations about terrorism or protest, Double added, “It just looked like a bike on fire to me.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the fire was not believed to be suspicious or deliberate. No injuries were reported. A spokesperson said, “A road closure was put in place while London Fire Brigade responded.”
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) stated that crews were dispatched at 12:44 pm, and the blaze was fully extinguished by 1:02 pm. The pedicab was completely destroyed. The LFB has highlighted the rising fire risks associated with e-bikes and e-scooters in London, noting a fire occurred every two days in 2023 involving such vehicles, leading to injuries and fatalities. They have issued strong warnings about the potential dangers of lithium battery fires, which can produce toxic vapours and intense flames.
