AN E-BIKE has exploded into flames while charging near Newcastle, sparking an urgent warning from firefighters.
The owner of the thick-tyred electric bike was charging its battery on the rear verandah of a Milford Street property in Toronto when he heard a series of explosions, according to Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW).
He ran outside when the noises caught his attention at about 1pm on Monday, August 12, and discovered the e-bike was well alight.
He quickly used a fire extinguisher and a garden hose to put the blaze out before FRNSW firefighting crews arrived at the scene.
An FRNSW spokesperson confirmed no injuries were reported after the incident and the home did not suffer any structural damage.
The man had bought the e-bike second-hand only two weeks ago.
The close call prompted a safety warning from FRNSW on Tuesday to ensure any items powered by lithium-ion batteries were being charged safely.
"Lithium-ion battery fires are the fastest growing fire risk in NSW," a spokesperson said.
Safe charging practices include:
- Always charge larger devices, such as e-bikes, e-scooters and power tools outside, away from living spaces and exits
- Never sleep or leave home with your lithium-ion battery devices charging
- Once a device has fully charged, disconnect it from the charger
- Never leave devices charging on beds, sofas or around combustible materials
The FRNSW spokesperson said it was essential a working smoke alarm was installed in any room, garage or other structure where lithium-ion batteries were being regularly charged or stored.
Earlier this year, a tragic housefire that claimed the lives of two women at Teralba was believed to have been started by a lithium-ion battery.
