Firefighter responds to dangerous e-bike fire on his way to work - Alexandria
Published: 28 Aug 2024 01:32pm
A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighter, driving to work, has stopped to protect a teenager during a e-bike fire this morning at Alexandria in inner Sydney.
The 15-year-old had borrowed the e-bike from a family friend last night and was riding it to school when it burst into flames on Botany Road just after 8am.
FRNSW HAZMAT Team Leader, David Jordan, was travelling along Botany Road at the same time and saw a large plume of smoke.
“At first, I thought it was a building fire, the smoke was so thick, so I turned the corner and pulled over to assess the situation,” Station Officer Jordan said.
He saw the e-bike on fire, flames spitting from its battery as the overheated cells went into ‘thermal runaway.’
Station Officer Jordan ushered bystanders out of harm’s way and assisted efforts to douse the flames with a handheld fire extinguisher.
A FRNSW crew from Mascot later arrived on scene to assist.
The teen told firefighters he was riding along when he suddenly felt the heat from the battery pack burning his legs.
The fire was extinguished and the teen continued onto school, unharmed.
The faulty battery array has been confirmed by FRNSW as the cause of the blaze.
The new e-bike was bought less than two months ago from a Sydney retail store…the bike’s owner, also a teenager, had saved up to make the purchase.
The incident has prompted FRNSW to remind the public about the risks relating to Lithium-Ion battery-powered devices.
“In this case, not only was the teen riding the bike very fortunate he wasn’t harmed,” Acting Assistant Commissioner – Community Safety, Brendan Cox, said, “But the e-bike is normally charged overnight in his friend’s bedroom as he sleeps.”
“E-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards, along with other Lithium-Ion battery-powered devices should never be on charge while you’re sleeping or not at home,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Cox added.
“Keep an eye on the condition of your devices and ensure they are not damaged or compromised,” he said.
“When Lithium-Ion batteries overheat, they can release toxic gas and then explode violently in flames.
“If a such a fire does occur, remove yourself from harm’s way and call Triple Zero (000).
“Whatever you do, don’t go back into the fire to retrieve items, stay outside where it’s safe and allow FRNSW to respond.”
Media note – A short video of the incident, supplied by the bike-rider, is available here: https://vimeo.com/1003438665/1bed9d1249?share=copy [external link]
Updated: 28 Aug 2024 01:36pm
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.
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)
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Stations nearby
179 Wyndham Street, Alexandria NSW 2015
113 George Street, Redfern NSW 2016
214-216 Australia Street, Newtown NSW 2042