THE gutting of yet another house in a fire sparked by a lithium-ion battery has prompted firefighters to urge homeowners to install smoke detectors in their garage.

Chook journalist Elvie Taylor lost her High Wycombe family home to a lithium-ion battery fire on July 29 when a battery-powered tool being charged in the garage caught fire.

Ms Taylor was not home at the time, having just touched down in Canada, but the fire resulted in the death of a pet cat and extensively damaged the home.

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in rechargeable electronic devices, power tools, phones, laptops and electric vehicles.

With the popularity of the powerful batteries growing, the Department of Fire and Emergency services has found itself being called out more than three times a week to respond to battery-related incidents. 

DFES deputy commissioner Jon Broomhall said lithium-ion battery fires remained a significant home fire safety concern, with serious incidents continuing to involve everyday household products.

“Rechargeable power tools, e-rideables, toys and other battery-powered devices have been involved in fires across Western Australia in recent years,” Mr Broomhall said. 

“While these products are generally safe when maintained correctly, any lithium-ion battery can fail, especially if it is damaged, defective, old or exposed to excessive heat.”

A fault can cause the battery to rapidly heat up, triggering a process known as thermal runaway. 

This chemical reaction generates more heat and flammable gases, which can cause the battery to rupture and ignite.

Mr Broomhall said DFES was seeing an “emerging trend” of fires starting in garages where power tools, e-rideables and other rechargeable devices are commonly stored and charged. 

“If you charge batteries in a garage or similar area, consider installing an interconnected heat alarm to provide earlier warning if a fire starts,” Mr Broomhall said. 

“One of the best ways to reduce your risk is to buy quality products from trusted retailers and always use the charger recommended by the manufacturer. 

“Avoid counterfeit, damaged or incompatible replacement batteries as these can significantly increase the risk of fire,” he said. 

Online marketplaces such as Temu and AliExpress offering cheaper products containing lithium-ion batteries are popular choices for Australians wanting to save some money, but the ACCC told the Chook that in some circumstances, platforms were not required to ensure products sold by third-party suppliers met mandatory safety standards. 

The main platforms have signed the Australian Product Safety Pledge, voluntarily committing to remove unsafe products when requested by regulators and to identify and address product safety risks.

But the proliferation of overseas-based marketplaces has made regulating products sold by overseas manufacturers difficult for the ACCC due to jurisdictional challenges in taking action against them.

The ACCC told the Chook it recorded a 92 per cent increase in reported lithium-ion battery incidents, including swelling, overheating and fires, in 2022 compared with 2020. 

Australia currently has gaps in the safety regulation of some low-voltage electrical products, including lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other e-micromobility devices.

The Albanese government is working towards nationally consistent safety standards, with the ACCC’s immediate focus on new requirements for e-bikes and their lithium-ion batteries.

DFES advised all lithium-ion batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated area on a hard, non-combustible surface, away from soft furnishings. Batteries should not be left charging overnight or while no one is home, while setting a reminder to disconnect devices once they are fully charged can further reduce the risk.

If a lithium-ion battery catches fire, people should move away from the device and call 000 immediately, as the fires can develop rapidly, produce toxic smoke and reignite after appearing to be extinguished.

To support Ms Taylor’s family head to Go Fund Me and search for Maloney-Ardizzone post fire fund.

by ISLA TOMLINSON