Lithium-ion battery causes unit fire - Lethbridge Park
Published: 18 Jun 2024 11:50am
A lithium-ion battery from an e-bike has caused a fire in a unit at Lethbridge Park in Sydney's west earlier today.
Crews were called to the second floor unit in Hawaii Avenue just before 3.00am after reports of a blaze in the three-storey complex.
Upon arrival, 16 firefighters quickly got to work to contain the fire, which is believed to have started in the kitchen area of the premises where the lithium-ion battery was located.
Initial reports suggested there was a person sleeping inside the unit, however a search found no people in the property.
Other occupants in the complex self-evacuated. A dog was located under a bed and safely removed by firefighters. It took crews approximately 20 minutes to extinguish the fire, which severely damaged the unit. The incident is a timely reminder for people to show extra caution around lithium-ion powered devices such as e-bikes, e-scooters and mobile devices.
When buying, using or charging lithium-ion products, FRNSW advises the public to:
- Be aware that lithium-ion batteries are prone to reignite after the initial fire has been extinguished.
- Buy lithium-Ion products and batteries from reputable suppliers that meet Australian standards.
- Only use cords and chargers supplied with the device. Don’t use inferior or different voltage replacement components.
- Never charge devices while you are sleeping or in places that could block your escape.
- Do not over-charge batteries. Switch off any cells once fully charged to avoid over-heating.
- Try to charge micro-mobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters outside, away from the home and on a hard surface.
- Charge in a clear non-combustible area near a smoke alarm.
- Note that any strong odours, extreme heat, colour change, deformity or strange sounds could indicate a problem with a lithium-ion battery.
- Dispose of lithium-ion batteries properly, don’t throw them out with household garbage.
For more information about lithium-ion battery safety, visit: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/batteries [external link]
Media note - FRNSW footage of the blaze can be located here: https://vimeo.com/960793846/78dc6ba957 [external link]
Updated: 18 Jun 2024 11:55am
Related safety topics
It's important that we all understand the risks of lithium-ion batteries and be prepared if things go wrong.
The leading cause of home fires in NSW is leaving cooking unattended.
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
Having a home escape plan and a working smoke alarm increases your chances of getting out safely.
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]
Stations nearby
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