Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have quickly extinguished an e-bike fire before it could take hold and harm the occupants of a small apartment complex overnight at Waterloo in Sydney’s inner south.
The battery of one of several e-bikes, stored in the ground floor stairwell of the Raglan Street unit block, overheated while being charged and went into ‘thermal runaway’, bursting into flames around 12.50 this morning.
Compromised battery cell
‘Thermal runaway’ is a process whereby a damaged or compromised battery cell generates enough heat
‘Thermal runaway’ is a process whereby a damaged or compromised battery cell generates enough heat to ignite, setting off a chain reaction of batteries exploding and giving off flammable, toxic gas.
Six fire trucks and 22 firefighters, from Alexandria, Redfern and City of Sydney stations rushed to the scene and stopped the flames and smoke from infiltrating the four units within the building.
Overcharge the batteries
It took an hour to contain and extinguish the fire and identify the faulty e-bike battery as the cause of the blaze. No-one was injured in the incident.
Fire and Rescue NSW advises the owners of micromobility devices, such as e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards, not to charge them while sleeping, not to overcharge the batteries and to avoid blocking emergency exit points.
Other vital tips
- If Lithium batteries are damaged or compromised, dispose of them properly
- Don’t throw them out in the rubbish, they can start garbage truck or rubbish tip fires when compacted
- Contact the local, approved recycling center for disposal advice
- Don’t leave devices charging in bedrooms or on beds, sofas, or around highly flammable materials
- Try to charge devices outside if possible
- Always buy reputable Lithium-battery brands and never ‘mix and match’ components
- Beware of cheap, substandard Lithium battery-powered devices
- Avoid dropping, crushing, or piercing battery cells
- Store batteries and devices in a cool, dry area, away from combustible materials
- Install active smoke alarms in the home/garage
- Ensure they have a home evacuation plan in the event of fire
