Where lithium battery fires really start, and how to contain them

When people picture a lithium-ion battery fire, they picture an e-bike. But most incidents don't start there. They start with the everyday devices we charge without thinking: the laptop on the desk, the power bank on the bench, the tool batteries on the garage floor, the phone charging overnight on the bedside table.

Every one of those carries the same risk. If a cell is damaged, faulty or overcharged, it can enter thermal runaway, a fast, self-sustaining reaction that produces intense heat, toxic gas and flame. Ordinary bags, boxes and drawers do nothing to slow it down. That's where a fireproof containment bag earns its place.

It's not the e-bike, it's the everyday

Laptops, tablets, power banks and cordless tool batteries all use the same lithium-ion cells as an e-bike, just smaller. The risk climbs when a battery is charging unattended, has been dropped or damaged, or is starting to swell. Because these devices live on our desks and benches, a failure happens right next to everything that can catch alight: paper, timber, fabric, curtains and furniture.

What a containment bag actually does

A fireproof containment bag won't stop a battery from failing. What it does is buy you time. It contains the thermal event inside the bag instead of letting it spread to the room, the vehicle or the workshop around it. That containment is the critical window: it helps stop a single device failure from becoming a structure fire, and gives you time to move clear and call 000.

If a battery ever shows a warning sign, swelling, unusual heat, an odour, discolouration or leaking, move it straight into the bag and away from anything combustible until it can be disposed of safely.

Match the bag to the battery

There's no single bag for every job. The right one depends on what you're charging and storing:

• Fireproof Laptop & Battery Bag (40 x 28cm) is the slim, flat option for laptops, tablets, power banks, camera and drone batteries, and smaller tool packs. It sits on a desk while charging or slides into a work bag. Rated to withstand peaks up to 1100°C. On sale now at $75, down from $95.
• Premium Lithium-Ion Battery Bag (42 x 38 x 22cm) is the larger, dual-layer bag for e-bike and e-scooter batteries, power-tool packs and machinery cells, with backpack straps for safe storage and transport.
• EV Fire Blankets add a further layer of protection for larger vehicle and battery fires, helping smother flames and buy time until the fire brigade arrives.

The habits that matter most

Equipment is only half the picture. The everyday habits below prevent most incidents before they start:

• Charge on a hard, non-combustible surface like concrete or tile, never on carpet, a bed, a sofa or in a fabric bag.
• Don't leave devices charging unattended or overnight without smoke detection nearby.
• Use the manufacturer's charger, and stop using any charger or cable that's damaged.
• Isolate any damaged, swollen or recalled battery in a containment bag straight away.
• In any real emergency, get everyone clear and call 000. No containment product replaces the fire brigade.

Learn the full picture

Knowing what to look for, and what to do in the first moments, makes the biggest difference of all. Our self-paced online awareness safety courses cover lithium battery and EV charging fire safety in about an hour, with a certificate on completion, ideal for households, workplaces and fleets.

Browse the full range of lithium-ion containment bags, and remember: free shipping Australia wide on orders over $500.