Two killed in NSW house blaze believed to be states first recorded lithium-ion battery-related deaths

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Fire and rescue officials say a blaze that killed two people in the Hunter Valley last week appears to have been sparked by a lithium-ion battery. If confirmed, it would be the first time such a fire is officially recognised as the cause of someone’s death in NSW.

Transcript

00:00 Four people were inside this townhouse in Lake Macquarie last Thursday when a fire erupted.

00:09 Two people managed to escape, two others inside the home were killed.

00:14 After an investigation, New South Wales fire authorities believe the tragedy marks the

00:18 first deaths in the state from a fire started by a lithium-ion battery.

00:26 In August, a 54-year-old man died in a house fire in Sydney's south-west.

00:30 Four lithium batteries were found inside but the official cause was undetermined.

00:36 They say the battery inside the Taralba home was compromised, causing it to overheat and

00:41 give off toxic gases before exploding in flames.

00:45 "We've seen an increase over the last three years in lithium-ion battery-related incidents."

00:52 Authorities say there have been 45 similar blazes in New South Wales so far this year,

00:58 the equivalent of five a week.

01:00 "This phenomenon has been happening across the globe and it was only a matter of time

01:05 before we here in New South Wales suffered the same consequences.

01:11 Don't charge the batteries overnight and don't leave them on charge close to any flammable

01:16 materials."

01:17 A report on Thursday's deadly fire is being prepared for the coroner who will formally

01:22 determine the cause of their deaths.

01:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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