A quick response from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews has prevented an e-scooter from exploding in flames today at Burwood, in Sydney's inner west.
A service technician was testing a faulty e-scooter inside a store on Burwood Road around 3.20 pm, when it caught fire and began giving off toxic gas. The employee rushed the micro-mobility device outside the service center business and rang Triple Zero (000).
Overheating e-scooterThe firefighters immersed the overheating e-scooter in a garbage bin of water
When two fire crews from Burwood Fire Station arrived on the scene moments later, they realized the Lithium-Ion batteries, powering the e-scooter, were about to explode in flames during a process known as 'thermal runaway.'
The firefighters immersed the overheating e-scooter in a garbage bin of water, preventing an explosion and intense fire. Lithium-ion batteries, once in thermal runaway, can continue to build heat and re-ignite, even when initially extinguished.
The 25-year-old man was treated for smoke inhalation by NSW Ambulance paramedics, while NSW Police diverted traffic away from the scene. Upon analysis, firefighters ascertained the technician had been testing the e-scooter with an incompatible power pack, causing it to overheat.
FRNSW Public Advice
Mix and matching chargers and components is one of the actions that Fire and Rescue NSW warns the public to avoid, when dealing with Lithium-Ion batteries.
FRNSW also 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 sleeping, away from home, or in places that could block escape
- Not to over-charge batteries. Switch off any cells once fully charged to avoid overheating
- Try to charge micro-mobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters outside, away from the home
- Charge in a clear, non-combustible area near a smoke alarm.
- Note that any strong odors, extreme heat, color change, deformity, or strange sounds could indicate a problem with a Lithium-ion battery..
- Have it checked by a professional
It was the second Lithium-Ion battery fire in Sydney. Earlier, a Lithium-Ion battery fire destroyed a two-story home at Oyster Bay, in the city's south. No one was injured in the incident.