Lithium Battery Fires Are Now a Daily Reality in Australia — Here's How to Protect Yourself

If you own an electric vehicle, an e-bike, an e-scooter, or even just a home full of rechargeable devices — this is the most important fire safety article you'll read this year.

Lithium-ion battery fires are no longer a rare occurrence in Australia. They're happening every single day. And the numbers are getting worse, not better.

The Numbers Are Alarming

Let's look at where things stand right now across the country:

• NSW: Fire and Rescue NSW recorded lithium-ion battery fires at a rate of 5.7 per week in 2024 — up from 5.2 per week in 2023. Seven people were injured.
• Western Australia: DFES reported a lithium battery fire almost every second day in 2024, making it the worst year on record — 166 fires that destroyed homes, damaged rubbish trucks, and even ignited bushfires.
• South Australia: MFS callouts to lithium battery fires increased nearly tenfold over five years. In the first half of 2025 alone, they'd already responded to more than half of the previous year's total.
• Victoria: Just last month, a house in Launching Place was completely destroyed after a lithium-ion battery ignited while charging. Eight CFA brigades responded but the dwelling was a total loss.
• Nationally: Fire services across the country indicate more than 1,000 fires were caused by lithium-ion batteries in the past year.

And here's the figure that should really get your attention: the ACCC estimates that by 2026, the average Australian household will contain 33 devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. That's not some distant future prediction — that's right now.

Why Lithium Battery Fires Are Different

If you've ever seen footage of a lithium-ion battery fire, you'll know it's nothing like a conventional fire. These fires are fundamentally different in three critical ways:

1. Extreme temperatures: Lithium-ion battery fires can reach up to 1,600°C during thermal runaway. For context, structural steel begins to lose strength at around 500°C.
2. Toxic gases: A burning lithium battery releases hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide, and other highly toxic vapours. These gases can be lethal in enclosed spaces like garages and car parks.
3. Reignition: Unlike conventional fires, lithium battery fires can reignite hours — even days — after they appear to be extinguished. Standard fire extinguishers simply aren't designed for this.

This is precisely why traditional ABC or CO2 fire extinguishers are ineffective against lithium-ion battery fires. They weren't formulated for this chemistry, and using the wrong equipment can make things worse.

Who's at Risk?

The short answer: almost everyone. But some situations carry higher risk than others.

EV owners charging at home — Your EV sits in the garage connected to a charger for hours at a time, often overnight while you sleep. While EV fires during charging are statistically rare (EVs are actually far safer than petrol cars overall), the consequences of being unprepared are severe.

E-bike and e-scooter owners — This is where the risk is growing fastest. Many e-bike fires involve cheap, non-compliant batteries purchased online, or owners who've modified their battery packs for more power. NSW alone recorded 72 e-micromobility fire incidents in 2024.

Apartment and strata residents — If you live in a building with underground car parking, EV charging stations, or neighbours who charge e-bikes in common areas, you're exposed to a fire risk that traditional building fire systems weren't designed for.

Businesses with EV fleets or charging stations — Fleet operators, car park managers, and facility managers have a duty of care to provide appropriate fire safety equipment for the specific risks in their environment.

What You Can Do Right Now

The good news is that being prepared doesn't require a massive investment or specialised training. Here's what we recommend:

For Home EV Owners and E-Bike Riders

• Keep a purpose-built lithium-ion fire extinguisher near where you charge. Our 1L extinguisher is compact enough to store beside your charger, and our 4L and 9L units provide coverage for larger vehicles.
• Store an EV fire blanket in an accessible location. In the early moments of a fire, deploying a fire blanket can contain the blaze and limit toxic gas spread while you evacuate and call 000.
• Never charge devices on carpet, bedding, or near flammable materials.
• Use only the manufacturer's charger — never mix and match brands.
• Disconnect devices as soon as they're fully charged.
• Watch for warning signs: swelling, unusual heat, strange noises, or odd smells from any battery.

For Strata Buildings and Car Parks

• Install car-sized EV fire blankets (6m x 8m) in parking areas with EV charging stations.
• Place 9L lithium-ion fire extinguishers at accessible points near charging infrastructure.
• Review your fire safety plan to include lithium battery fire response procedures.
• Check with your strata insurer — properties lacking appropriate fire safety measures for EVs may face challenges obtaining adequate coverage.

For Businesses and Fleet Operators

• Conduct a fire risk assessment that specifically addresses lithium-ion battery risks.
• Equip charging depots with appropriately sized fire blankets and extinguishers.
• Train staff on the differences between conventional fires and lithium battery fires.
• Contact us for a tailored recommendation based on your fleet size and charging setup.

New Regulations Are Tightening

Governments are catching up to the risk. In NSW, all e-micromobility devices sold must now comply with prescribed safety standards as of February 2025. From February 2026, all e-bikes must carry permanent certification labels on the frame, with fines of up to $825,000 for corporations selling non-compliant products.

NSW strata reforms that came into effect in July 2025 prevent owners corporations from banning EV charger installations based on aesthetics alone — meaning more EV charging in apartment buildings is inevitable. And with that comes a responsibility to have the right fire safety equipment in place.

Meanwhile, IAG (NRMA Insurance, CGU, RACQ) is leading a major research project with QUT and Standards Australia to develop national safety guidelines. The full findings are expected later this year. The direction is clear: specialised fire safety equipment for lithium-ion batteries is moving from "nice to have" to "essential."

Don't Wait for the Fire to Make the Decision for You

Every week, Australian fire services respond to dozens of lithium battery fires. Most people affected say the same thing: "I never thought it would happen to me."

The reality is that with 33 lithium battery devices in every Australian home, and hundreds of thousands of EVs and e-bikes on our roads, the risk is real and it's present. Having the right equipment — a purpose-built lithium-ion fire extinguisher and an EV fire blanket — gives you the ability to respond in those critical first moments.

Browse our full range of EV fire safety equipment →

Have questions about which products are right for your situation? Get in touch with our team — we're here to help you find the right protection for your home, vehicle, building, or business.

---

EV Fire Solutions is an Australian company specialising in fire safety equipment purpose-built for lithium-ion battery fires. Our products are tested to EN13501 standards and designed for rapid deployment by anyone, without specialised training.