Fire and Rescue NSW investigators determine a faulty lithium ion battery caused a villa fire at Epping - Epping
Published: 17 Feb 2023 10:56am
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) specialist fire investigators have blamed a faulty lithium-ion battery for a fire that destroyed a villa at Epping in Sydney earlier this week.
After sifting though the debris of the Kent Street address and talking to the occupants, fire investigators determined a lithium ion battery purchased second-hand had a catastrophic failure, causing the intense fire on Wednesday.
A solar panel system located in the rear yard was charging the battery, located inside the home when the blaze broke out.
FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said although the fire was devastating for the family, it could have been a lot worse...thankfully there were no injuries.
"Had this inferno ignited in the middle of the night we could be talking about fatalities today," Supt Dewberry said.
"Our advice to the community is 'always consider where you purchase your lithium ion batteries and associated equipment.'
"It is not a good idea to purchase them second-hand, especially when you don't know the history of the products.
"We recommend always purchasing from a reputable retailer and recharging the batteries with equipment provided by the manufacturer."
Media Note: an interview video with FRNSW Fire Investigation and Research Unit Team Leader, Inspector Michael Forbes, walking through the scene is available at this link: https://vimeo.com/799336637/5534e5e22e [external link]
Updated: 17 Feb 2023 11:20am
Related safety topics
It's important that we all understand the risks of lithium-ion batteries and be prepared if things go wrong.
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
The best way to keep you and your family safe is to prevent fires from occurring and know what to do in case of a fire.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link]
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