Victorian fire authorities have sounded a warning about the increasing number of Lithium-Ion battery fires after a dramatic blaze in Carlton. Dozens of students had to be evacuated from an apartment block when a fire was sparked by an exploding portable power bank. Given the popularity of these products experts are urging consumers to check theirs are still up to Australian standards.
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00:00 This is the aftermath of a lithium-ion battery fire and a close call for two students as
00:07 they slept.
00:08 Their home now burnt out and destroyed after a power bank left charging next to the bed
00:14 overnight exploded, setting the mattress alight.
00:17 They were in a bit of shock when we spoke to them this morning.
00:20 They were very lucky to get out without being injured to be honest.
00:24 About 50 students in the Carlton Accommodation Building were evacuated as the fire took hold.
00:29 I usually sleep with my laptop and my phone next to me on my desk.
00:33 I'm not doing that anymore.
00:34 I am going to keep my phone somewhere else from now on.
00:39 Fire Rescue Victoria says it's responding to almost one fire per day in Melbourne caused
00:44 by lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in smartphones, vapes and e-scooters.
00:49 It's a trend that all fire services worldwide are dealing with.
00:53 In March, two women were killed after an e-bike battery caught fire near Newcastle.
00:59 And in Queensland, a father-to-be was killed after an e-scooter exploded.
01:03 In the city of Melbourne, a lot of apartment buildings, a lot of people use scooters for
01:08 transport and then they'll charge those scooters inside their apartments.
01:12 It is a real concern for fire services.
01:16 This apartment is completely gussed and firefighters say concrete structures like this can reach
01:21 up to 1,000 degrees, making it a very lucky escape for these two residents.
01:27 The Energy Safety Regulator is warning consumers to never leave batteries unattended when charging
01:32 for long periods, don't charge on a flammable surface like a bed or sofa and never use incompatible
01:38 chargers for batteries.
01:40 It's not set and forget.
01:41 You have to keep an eye on the battery.
01:43 If it's hot, don't use it anymore.
01:46 If you can see it bulging, definitely don't use it anymore.
01:50 It's a timely warning in an increasingly device-dependent world.
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