Department of Fire and Emergency Services say lithium-ion battery devices spark fires at alarming rate in WACaitlin VinciThe West AustralianFri, 8 August 2025 7:43AMCommentsCommentsEmail Caitlin Vinci
Phones, e-rideables and vapes are among the lithium-ion battery devices sparking fires at an alarming rate across WA.
So far this year, firefighters have responded to 93 lithium-ion battery fires — an average of three every week.
Nearly one-third of these fires involved batteries igniting even when they were not on charge.
Laptops, power banks and power tools are also among the lithium-ion battery devices catching fire and contributing to the alarming statistic.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said poor quality, damaged or over-charged products are proven to contribute to a battery failing and sparking a fire.
Batteries enter a state known as thermal runaway, causing them to overheat, explode or emit toxic gas.
Thermal runaway can result in a fire starting several metres away from the device, potentially engulfing an entire home in minutes.
DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm has pleaded with West Aussies to remain vigilant as lithium-ion batteries are posing a serious fire risk in homes.
“Lithium-ion batteries are generally safe if purchased from trusted retailers and handled responsibly but compromised products that enter into thermal runaway can escalate quickly and cause devastating housefires,” he said.
“Be careful where you store your lithium-ion battery products and ensure they’re charged on a hard surface, away from flammable items such as beds, carpet or couches.
“I also urge people to install and check their smoke alarms, particularly in garages — we see a lot of fires starting in carports as people often store their power tools and other devices there.”
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In 2024, firefighters responded to 178 lithium-ion battery fires — this was a five-year high. Now, in 2025, WA is on track for a record-breaking figure as it is just shy of 100 in the first week of August.
Just two weeks ago, in Forrestfield, a young couple and their 12-month-old child were put at risk when a lithium-ion battery pack caught fire, engulfing the home in flames.
A man in his 30s was taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation as a result.
Earlier in the year, a home in Nollamara went up in flames after an e-scooter in the living room caught fire. It took firefighters hours to get the blaze under control.
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