A passer-by has raised the alarm during a house fire, caused by a faulty Lithium-Ion battery, used to power an e-scooter, at Temora, in the state's Riverina.
The local Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew rushed to the Loftus Street home around 9 am on Monday. Moments earlier, the neighborhood friend was driving past the house when he noticed the flames engulfing a storeroom on the property. He stopped his vehicle and ran to the front door to warn his friend.
Minor smoke inhalation
The FRNSW crew confirmed the blaze was out and extinguished several spot fires
Together, they attacked the fire with garden hoses until the fire crew arrived. The pair was among three people treated for minor smoke inhalation at the scene. The FRNSW crew confirmed the blaze was out and extinguished several spot fires.
As the firefighters cleared the storeroom, they discovered the cause of the fire, a faulty Lithium-Ion battery in one of two e-scooters.
Fire broken out in the middle of the night
“It appears the battery ignited spontaneously…it wasn’t being charged,” said FRNSW Deputy Captain, Grant Reid.
He adds, “Had the fire broken out in the middle of the night, this could have ended tragically.”
Extra precautions of Fire and Rescue NSW
Fire and Rescue NSW reminds the public to take extra precautions around Lithium-Ion batteries:
- Don’t over-charge batteries or leave them charging overnight unattended or when asleep.
- Only purchase reputable Lithium battery-powered products.
- Don’t charge batteries and devices on beds, sofas, or around highly flammable and insulating materials.
- Always use compliant and approved charging equipment for the device/s; don't mix and match unrelated components.
- Avoid dropping, crushing, or piercing the battery cells.
- Store batteries and devices in a cool, dry area away from combustible materials. Larger devices, such as e-bikes and gardening tools, should be stored outside of bedrooms and living spaces.
- Don’t charge or use batteries and devices that show signs of damage.
