‘Volatile’ e-scooter battery linked to blaze

Four people have escaped an intense house fire in Sydney’s northern beaches, with police investigating whether an e-scooter on charge caused the blaze.

Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters were called to the blaze on Ronald Ave, in Narraweena, shortly after 4am on Thursday.

On arrival, crews discovered smoke billowing from the single storey home.

After firefighters were prevented from entering the house because of the collapsing roof and extreme heat, they adopted a defensive strategy to contain the flames.

Three of the four residents were treated by paramedics at the scene, with one person being transported to hospital for burns to a foot.

FRNSW duty commander Inspector Steven Perkins said the four residents had an incredibly lucky escape.

“All early indicators are pointing to an e-scooter on charge inside the house as the possible cause,” he said.

“The nature of lithium-ion battery fires is extremely volatile.

“When these devices fail, they tend to do so extremely quickly and with great intensity.

“Despite how quickly the fire took hold, our crews successfully prevented it from spreading throughout the entire home to neighbouring properties.”

Owners of e-bikes, e-scooters and mobile devices are being reminded to show extra caution around lithium-ion powered devices.

When buying, using or charging lithium-ion products, FRNSW advises the public to:

• Be aware that lithium-ion batteries are prone to reignite after the initial fire has been extinguished;
• Buy lithium-ion products and batteries from reputable suppliers that meet Australian standards;
• Only use cords and chargers supplied with the device. Don’t use inferior or different voltage replacement components;
• Never charge devices while you are sleeping or in places that could block your escape;
• Do not overcharge batteries. Switch off any cells once fully charged to avoid overheating;
• Try to charge micro-mobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters outside, away from the home and on a hard surface;
• Charge in a clear non-combustible area near a smoke alarm;
• Note that any strong odours, extreme heat, colour change, deformity or strange sounds could indicate a problem with a lithium-ion battery; and
• Dispose of lithium-ion batteries properly, don’t throw them out with household garbage.

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