A repair shop for electric bikes has erupted in flames in Sydney’s Inner West.
No one was injured, but it has prompted a warning from authorities about the dangers posed by lithium batteries.
“Working smoke alarms, using the right charging devices, and turning them off once they’re charged – they’re the keys,” Country Fire Authority Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook said.
“If you’ve got a damaged battery, so look for signs of bulging, leaks, anything like that; don’t continue to use one of those batteries because there’s a chance it’ll actually enter what we call thermal runaway … and that’s when they can be at their most volatile.”
Two backpackers narrowly avoided serious injury in October when an e-bike battery exploded inside their Sydney hostile.
“It is something that we’re aware of. We’re trying to put some community messaging out about the risks involved with it,” Fire and Rescue New South Wales Superintendent Andrew Shurety said.
