A family has been forced to shelter on an apartment balcony after an eScooter caught alight overnight at a home in Sydney's Inner West. The family was alerted to the fire in the unit's laundry by a working smoke alarm.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) arrived at the scene at Marine Drive, Chiswick, just before 4:30 am. The three occupants, two adults and a child, were forced to move to the balcony of the unit, as toxic smoke had made it impossible to exit via the front door, located next to the laundry.
FRNSW specialist fire investigators
As a precaution, firefighters evacuated more than 40 residents from the building while the fire was being extinguished
Firefighters entered the apartment and were able to extinguish the fire, sparked by the eScooter overheating, while on charge. They then placed the scooter into a large bin full of water to stop the lithium-ion battery re-igniting.
As a precaution, firefighters evacuated more than 40 residents from the building while the fire was being extinguished. FRNSW specialist fire investigators will make further inquiries now.
Working smoke alarms
Superintendent - Adam Dewberry from FRNSW stated, "This is the second fire in two days where a working smoke alarm has notified the occupants of a fire in their home. In both incidents, the occupants have been able to evacuate to safety without injury."
He adds, "We know working smoke alarms save lives and prevent serious injury. Working smoke alarms provided these occupants with an early notification of the fire, enabling them to move to safety in time. It only takes a matter of minutes for a fire to take hold in a home. Fires produce large volumes of deadly and toxic smoke, and it is this smoke that usually kills people in home fires."
