Extraordinary CCTV footage, obtained by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), has captured the moment two backpackers were caught in a fireball when a Lithium-ion battery exploded inside a hostel at Darlinghurst, in inner Sydney.
FRNSW deployed 22 firefighters and six fire trucks to Darlinghurst Road, where the blaze had broken out in a unit shortly after 9 am. It's suspected to have been sparked by a faulty e-bike battery left on charge.
Security footage from a hallway shows one of the French nationals standing at the doorway and talking to their friend, who was still inside the room, when a device suddenly explodes into flames.
Extinguishing the blaze
Both men made a desperate dash to safety before attending the nearby Kings Cross Police Station to seek assistance. One of the men, aged in his 20s, sustained minor burns to his leg and was transported to St Vincent's Hospital for further treatment.
Another 70 people were evacuated from the building, while the surrounding streets were shut down to enable emergency response.
Fire crews managed to contain damage to the one unit before extinguishing the blaze a short time later. Experts from FRNSW's Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) are working with NSW Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
