Electric scooter battery suspected to have sparked unit blaze - VIDEO - Wentworthville
Published: 21 Jul 2023 02:11pm
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) investigators suspect a fire which damaged a unit at Wentworthville, in Sydney's west, today may have been sparked by an electric scooter.
Twenty-eight firefighters and seven fire trucks were deployed to attack the blaze, which broke out in a ground floor unit within the four-level complex in Lane Street, around 8:15am.
Three people inside the unit managed to escape before the flames took hold.
One was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for smoke inhalation and later transported to hospital for further treatment.
FRNSW crews, using ladders, rescued another three people from the balconies of adjacent units affected by smoke.
They were each checked over by paramedics, with one taken to hospital.
The blaze was extinguished, with firefighters remaining at the scene to clear smoke from the building and douse any hotspots.
Experts from FRNSW's Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) are now looking into where and how the fire started.
At this stage, they believe a scooter, powered by a lithium battery, was left on charge inside the unit overnight and may have ignited.
More information about safely charging, storing and disposing of lithium batteries, and related devices, is available on the FRNSW website - https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9389 [external link]
EDITOR'S NOTE: Video footage from the Wentworthville fire scene, including shots of the e-scooter suspected to have caused the blaze, is available for download - https://vimeo.com/847195276/c26d6588a1 [external link]
The spokesperson in the video is FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry.
Updated: 21 Jul 2023 02:15pm
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Wentworthville | #FRNSW investigators suspect a fire which damaged a unit at Wentworthville, in Sydney's west, today may have been sparked by an electric scooter.
02:09pm • Jul 21, 2023 - View tweet on Twitter
Related safety topics
It's important that we all understand the risks of lithium-ion batteries and be prepared if things go wrong.
Having a home escape plan and a working smoke alarm increases your chances of getting out safely.
The best way to keep you and your family safe is to prevent fires from occurring and know what to do in case of a fire.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link]
Stations nearby
6 Garfield Street, Wentworthville NSW 2145
110-114 Wigram Street, Harris Park (Parramatta) NSW 2150
340 Merrylands Road, Merrylands NSW 2160