Lithium-ion battery fires explode in SA as Minister Andrea Michaels reveals close call at home

A lithium-ion battery blast from a charging e-scooter almost destroyed Minister Andrea Michaels’ home as her family slept, now she’s warning others not to make the same mistake.

MFS Chief Officer Jeff Swan, Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels and CFS Executive Director of Operations Brenton Hastie at the launch of a new safety campaign to address a spike in lithium-ion battery fires. Picture: Natasha Emeck

A lithium-ion battery blast from a charging e-scooter nearly destroyed Minister Andrea Michaels’ home as her family slept — now she’s warning others not to make the same mistake.

The 3am blaze broke out in 2020 while her son’s e-scooter was plugged in inside the lounge.

Left to charge there overnight, the battery ignited, filling the house with thick smoke and toxic vapours.

Damage caused by a lithium-ion battery at Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels' home in 2020.

“It was probably the most terrifying thing I’ve ever had to deal with,” she said.

“I was stupidly charging my son’s scooter in the lounge room, the wrong place to charge it.

“The carpet caught fire … I can still feel the burning of my chest from the smoke and vapours.”

Luckily no one was injured, but the family was forced out for four months due to extensive smoke damage.

Minister Michaels has spoken out as SA faces a spike in lithium-ion battery fires — she says with 39 battery fires already recorded this year, SA is on track for its worst year on record.

One in four of the most recent fires were linked to mobility devices, including major blazes at Croydon Park, Adelaide CBD and Hackham.

MFS Chief Officer Jeff Swan said they had seen a ten-fold increase in lithium battery fires in five years.

He said most were caused by human error — overcharging, dodgy chargers or tampering with batteries.

MFS Chief Officer Jeff Swan, Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels and CFS Executive Director of Operations Brenton Hastie at the launch of a new safety campaign to address a spike in lithium-ion battery fires. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“When lithium-ion batteries are not used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, are tampered with or are damaged, they can become extremely volatile,” he said.

“Without warning they can burst violently, releasing toxic and flammable gases, which can lead to intense fires and explosions.

“Our firefighters are increasingly attending fires where occupants have had near misses, and it is only a matter of time until someone gets seriously injured or killed.

“We implore the community not to tamper with battery packs, and to ensure the charging units are compatible with the batteries.”

MFS and CFS have launched a two-month safety blitz to warn households about the deadly risk of misusing lithium-ion batteries.

Consumer and Business Services is backing the push, after a 92 per cent spike in battery-related incidents — including fires — was reported nationally in 2022.

For more product safety tips and information about safe battery disposal visit cbs.sa.gov.au/campaigns/lithium-ion-batteries