E-scooter’s now a significant fire risk as firefighters warn incorrect chargers, cheap purchases to blame

A huge spike in e-scooter-related house fires have led Queensland Fire and Emergency Service to issue a stark warning about what could set yours alight.

Incorrect chargers and second-hand or cheap e-scooters are being blamed for a spike in fires caused by the mobility devices.

The Courier Mail can reveal that since 2021, when e-scooters first became significant causes of house fires in Queensland, firefighters have been attending multiple incidents a week.

The latest statistics from QFES show 24 residential structure fires were caused from lithium-ion batteries between July 1 last year and January 11.

In the 2021-22 financial year, there were 48 incidents.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services investigation unit manager Darren Mallouk said fires caused by e-scooters were becoming more common.

“These can be small fires all the way up to full blown house fires,” he said.

Damage following a fire involving a lithium-ion battery. Picture: QFES

One of the main causes were mixing and matching chargers, which Mr Mallouk said was quite dangerous.

“The scooters are designed to take a certain rate of charge while they are being recharged, so if you hook up a charger that charges them at a higher charge rate, it can be catastrophic,” he said.

QFES fire safety section executive manager Mark Halverson said it was important riders checked they had the right charger when buying second hand.

“Quite often the chargers might be separate, the new buyer might get a charger online – it might connect and charge but it might not be the right one,” he said.

Mr Halverson also stressed the dangers of overnight or unattended charging as if an e-scooter catches alight, initial extinguishing may be ineffective.

“While water on a small lithium battery may extinguish in the short term there’s a high likelihood of reignition,” Mr Halverson said.

“Any instances of the battery showing signs of overheating, bulging of battery, smell or immediately makes any smoke or fire.

“Evacuate and call triple-0 immediately.”

Another issue Mr Mallouk raised is cheap scooters that don't meet Australian standards.

“The batteries can fail internally, they can be an internal fault from manufacturing but typically they fail more on charge,” he said.

“People need to be aware of where they store these things when they are not being used. Having them on charge unattended overnight for long periods of time is a concern.”

E-scooter fire, showing lithium-ion batteries. Picture: QFES

Last Thursday a home at Darra was destroyed and five people were taken to hospital after an e-scooter battery exploded.

Rachel Saunders gave the Kaabo Skyline e-scooter to her 17-year-old son Kristan after his cancer diagnosis last year.

“We got him a scooter so he wouldn’t have to walk from chemotherapy and this is what happens to us,” she said.

“They need to be banned because I nearly lost my kids,” she said.

Upset mother Rachel Saunders at the home E-Scooter fire at Sigiriya Street, Darra Thursday January 12, 2023. Picture, John Gass

Mr Mallouk said the scooters burn with a lot of intensity which is why they spread quickly.

“The bigger the battery, the higher the charge, the more intense the fire, they are not just a flash fire, they sustain for quite some time,” he said.

Mr Mallouk said the best place to keep them was away from things that could catch fire, in a garden shed or outside but not in direct sunlight.

But if they do catch fire Mr Mallouk said there were a few warning signs.

“You might hear crackling noises from it which is a sign something is going on,” he said.

“If there’s any sort of smoke from it, that’s a definite sign, that’s a vapour cloud.