Exploding Lithium-Ion Battery Kills 2 in State’s 1st Battery Fire Death

A technician unpacks a completely burned Lithium-ion car battery before its dismantling by the German recycling firm Accurec in Krefeld, Germany, November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo

Two people have died in a home in Newcastle from an exploding lithium-ion battery, marking what firefighters fear are the first deaths linked to a battery fire in New South Wales (NSW).

A damaged battery entered “thermal runaway,” heating up, releasing toxic gases, and exploding into flames in a townhouse in Teralba, Newcastle, around 4:10 a.m. on Feb. 29, according to Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW).

Police found one body during an initial search of the building and later discovered a second body as searches continued on March 1, with two other people managing to escape the blaze.

“This appears to be what we have been fearing for a while now, a person or persons dying due to a lithium-ion battery-related fire in this state,” FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said.

He described the battery fire as fiercely intense and unpredictable, even posing significant challenges for firefighters due to their extreme heat.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this devastating loss and with the Teralba community.”

Crews managed to put out the fire at the townhouse where the deceased were located, but the building suffered significant damage.

Meanwhile, NSW police are working to identify the victims after their bodies were recovered from the ruins and will prepare a report for the NSW coroner.

The incident has sparked a debate online about the safety of lithium-ion batteries and measures taken to safeguard communities.

FRNSW responded to the outcry by informing the public about their ongoing collaborative research program on the Safety of Alternative and Renewable Energy Technologies (SARET), as lithium-ion batteries remain essential to Australia’s transition to net zero emissions.

In collaboration with global partners, the program will study how crews respond to lithium-ion battery fires, manage hazards from old lithium-ion batteries, handle electric vehicle fires indoors, and address fire spread in battery energy storage systems.

“We hope this research will be able to influence the future of Lithium-Ion battery safety and handling in Australia and beyond,” FRNSW said.

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety: A Complex Challenge

Managing lithium-ion battery safety is complex, as batteries can overheat or explode in several ways, such as if used, charged, disposed of incorrectly, or damaged.

By 2026, houses are expected to have an average of 33 lithium-ion battery-powered devices, highlighting the growing need for improved disposal methods, according to the Australia Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC).

ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe noted lithium-ion batteries could easily catch fire when heated, wet, or crushed, which often happens when they are disposed of in garbage trucks and waste facilities.

“Consumers should keep lithium-ion batteries out of household rubbish and check recyclemate.com.au and bcycle.com.au for information about safe disposal,” Ms. Lowe said.

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe strongly urged the public to use dedicated battery recycling points to protect the environment and prevent potential hazards.

“More dedicated battery recycling points are popping up in shopping centres, office blocks, and many council facilities, so do the right thing and take them to a drop-off point for safe disposal,” she said.

NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib also weighed in.

“These batteries are used to power everything from mobile phones and laptops to vacuum cleaners and e-scooters. We would encourage people to choose carefully and consider how they use them in the home,” he said.

He urged homeowners to charge devices carefully, avoiding charging them while sleeping, near flammable objects, or near home exits, as they risk exploding in these places.

FRNSW’s commissioner urged people to only buy the batteries from trusted companies.

“You'd want peace of mind ... if the price is too good to be true or there’s no recognised brand on the batteries, steer clear and ensure you’re shopping for a quality product,” Mr. Fewtrell said.

It comes as overheating batteries have been linked to 44 fires in NSW in 2024, about five per week, and 269 blazes were connected to batteries in 2023.

The ACCC received 231 safety reports about lithium-ion batteries in the last five years.

The consumer watchdog noted that there have been 23 recalls affecting about 89,000 products on the market.

LG Energy Solution Australia is also recalling nearly 17,000 home solar batteries in Australia due to the risk of overheating and fire.