Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is reminding the community about the dangers of Lithium-ion batteries after an e-bike caught fire in an apartment at Bankstown, in Sydney's south-west.
Four people were inside when the blaze broke out on the third level of a 10-storey building on French Avenue, near Conway Road, around 6:30 am. FRNSW deployed 25 firefighters and four fire trucks to the scene.
However, sprinkler systems in the complex activated, containing and largely extinguishing the fire prior to their arrival.
E-Bike Ablaze
They have since established that the e-bike was plugged in and on-charge at the time of the fire
Firefighters were told one of the occupants had attempted to move the e-bike as it was catching alight and suffered a superficial burn to his hand.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 30-year-old man before transporting him to the hospital for further medical assistance.
FRNSW crews extinguished the blaze and helped ventilate the building. They have since established that the e-bike was plugged in and on-charge at the time of the fire.
Thermal runaway
FRNSW Acting Superintendent, Mathew Sigmund, said it was fortunate this situation didn't have a worse outcome.
"Lithium-ion batteries that are compromised can go into a process known as thermal runaway, which can create toxic and flammable vapors, triggering an explosion or an otherwise life-threatening situation for those nearby," Acting Superintendent Sigmund said.
"Firefighters recommend not leaving Lithium-ion batteries on charge once they have reached capacity, not to charge batteries near exits from buildings, on or near combustible surfaces, or while people are sleeping."
