In a harrowing incident early this morning in Forrestfield, located south-east of Perth, a house quickly became engulfed in flames at approximately 3:30 am. A family of three, including a 12-month-old infant and their two dogs, were inside the dwelling when the fire broke out. Fortunately, they managed to escape just in time, aided by alert neighbours who rushed to assist them.
Emergency services responded to the blaze, resulting in the hospitalisation of a 38-year-old man who was experiencing breathing difficulties. Tragically, the house was declared completely uninhabitable and irretrievable, with investigators attributing the fire to a lithium-ion battery associated with a power tool. This incident marks the 107th house fire linked to such batteries in Western Australia this year alone.
The frequency of these fires is alarming, as just within the past 48 hours, four homes across the state have been lost to similar blazes. Investigator Darryl Krammer expressed concern over the rising number of incidents, indicating that these are merely the fires that emergency services have been notified about, suggesting there may be many more unreported cases. He stressed that the risk to public safety is continuously increasing.
Lithium-ion batteries are commonly found in various appliances, from portable chargers and electric vehicles to mobile phones and vacuum cleaners. In light of these risks, authorities recommend charging battery-operated devices outdoors where possible and emphasising the importance of having smoke alarms installed in garages to help mitigate potential hazards.
This recent event highlights the urgent need for community awareness regarding the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries and the measures that can be taken to ensure safety in residential areas.