Caravan destroyed at Auburn after lithium battery catches fire

A caravan has burnt to the ground in a caravan park in one of Adelaide’s wine regions on Tuesday morning.

A caravan on fire at Auburn Community Caravan Park. Picture: CFS

A caravan has gone up in flames in the state’s mid north after a freak incident saw a lithium battery inside catch fire.

CFS were called to the Auburn Community Caravan Park around 10:30am on Tuesday after the owners of a caravan spotted smoke coming from lithium batteries.

Firefighters successfully contained the fire, but were unable to save the caravan.

A spokesperson for the caravan park told The Advertiser the caravan was “out in the open” on an unpowered site, which prevented damage to other property.

The owners of the caravan managed to escape without injury, while damages to the 12-month-old caravan have been estimated at $175,000.

CFS remained on the scene for several hours to ensure the fire didn’t spread to nearby grass.

The blaze comes just months after an Adelaide Hills battery shop was destroyed in a freak explosion.

A caravan has gone up in flames at Auburn in the state’s mid-north, sparked by lithium batteries. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/nxmYg8LZFd

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 4, 2025

The family owned Power-Packed Batteries Workshop in Nairne, which had been in operation for more than 30 years, burnt down in January after a lithium battery exploded, leaving a damage bill of at least $55,000.

Incidents involving lithium batteries have been on the increase, with the MFS reporting a 650pc surge between 2019-2023.