Joanne Frost has lost her home and is now living in temporary accomodation10:23, 20 May 2026Updated 10:27, 20 May 2026Mum loses everything in house fireA mum 'lost everything' when her house was devastated within 15 minutes by a blaze sparked by her son's faulty e-bike battery. When Joanne Frost, 42, arrived back at her two-bedroom property in Bromley, south east London, one morning last June, she was met by fierce flames leaping from her windows.‌Her teenage son's e-bike, which had been in the front room, had burst into flames, leaving her home of 24 years entirely gutted. Photographs from the scene reveal the bike was almost entirely incinerated – with only the rear wheel and a section of the frame surviving.‌Joanne recalled: "My son was in there, his friend, and a dog – he just heard a bang. He opened his bedroom door and he just heard noises and smoke, he was stuck in his bedroom.‌"He opened up the windows and a man across the road, luckily, was outside painting the front of the house. He came over with the ladder and managed to get the boys out."The dog was stuck in there for a while, but we managed to get him out. It literally just went up in 15 minutes. The house was just gone."‌The inferno completely wrecked Joanne's ceilings, sofa, and her recently-purchased kitchen equipment. She has been residing in temporary housing for 10 months since, and even spent six weeks in a Travelodge. Olly, 16, received the bike as a present from his father for his 15th birthday.Throughout the eight months he owned it, he said he would 'drive' the bike around the park and to see friends. Joanne revealed that she and her son have been left with 'a bit of PTSD' following the blaze – and the only appliance she now leaves plugged in is her fridge. She urged others to ensure they understood what they were purchasing.READ MORE: Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary gives price 'rise' warningREAD MORE: Brit facing £60K Thailand insurance nightmare after breaking her back horse ridingThe devastated mother stated: "If you're going to buy a bike, make sure you buy one from a proper shop. "Don't buy one of the converted kits. Don't charge it at nighttime.‌"If you're going to charge it, do it in the garden, don't charge it in your house at all – at least if it does blow up, it blows up outside, not in your property. I've become very paranoid about everything now – I don't charge my mobile phone overnight. I make sure the plugs are all turned off."She continued: "E-bikes should be tested properly, these batteries need to be tested properly. I don't know where they're getting them from, it's becoming the norm with these electric bikes blowing up everywhere."Something definitely needs to be done – there need to be stricter regulations on the manufacturers and the suppliers."‌A London Fire Brigade spokesperson commented: "If you can, store an e-bike or e-scooter outdoors in an external location such as a garage or shed. However, we understand that this is not possible for everyone."If you keep an e-bike or e-scooter indoors. Make sure it is never being stored or charged on an escape route, such as a hallway, by the front door or on or under a staircase.‌"Instead, have it in a room away from the door, where in the event of a fire, you can shut the door and get everyone to safety."In the UK, road-legal e-bikes can be ridden by anyone aged 14 or over, provided they qualify as an 'electrically assisted pedal cycle'. To remain within the law, they must feature pedals capable of propelling the bike, and the motor must disengage when the speed exceeds 15.5 mph.Article continues belowAny e-bike that can be driven beyond this speed by its motor alone, lacks pedals, or produces a continuous rated power output greater than 250 watts, is legally classified as a motorbike and must be taxed and insured accordingly.Fundraiser - https://www.gofundme.com/f/lost-everything-in-a-house-fire-have-to-start-over-again