Dangerous lithium-ion batteries have claimed another victim, with a charging e-bike behind a fatal house fire.
Authorities responded to a fire at Guildford, in Sydney’s west, on Tuesday morning and found a man trapped inside a burning room. However, he could not be revived after being extracted.
Five other people had evacuated the home before firefighters arrived, with one taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Fire and Rescue NSW determined the blaze started due to an incompatible charger powering an e-bike battery, believing the battery overheated because it could not absorb the generated power.
Little more than a week ago, FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell warned more lithium-ion-powered deaths would be possible if people continued to overcharge their batteries and leave them absorbing juice overnight.
NSW had 318 lithium-ion battery fires in 2024, up from 165 two years earlier.
In NSW, mandatory testing and certification will take effect by August, while mandatory labelling is slated to start by February 2026.
But government officials warned legislation tweaks could only do so much with individuals needing to heed the advice of fire authorities to stay safe.
The NSW State coroner in November announced a probe into fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries, after two people died in March when a battery exploded and caused a blaze north of Sydney.
Poor-quality or improperly charged lithium-ion batteries are susceptible to dangerous thermal runaway events, which occur when temperature outpaces energy dispersal.
