‘Need people to understand’: Warning after man dies in house fire in Guildford, Sydney

A young man who died in a house fire in Sydney’s west has been identified as firefighters uncovered the cause of the horrific blaze.

A man has died while five others managed to escape after a fire, started by a lithium battery, tore through a home in Sydney’s west.

Emergency services were called to a home on Rowley Rd, Guildford about 5am on Tuesday following reports of a fire.

Haidar Ali, 21, was killed in the incident which was sparked by his bike’s electric battery catching ablaze inside his bedroom.

Mr Ali was a food delivery driver who rode his electric bike to work. Picture: Supplied

Mr Ali was a Pakistani national who moved to Australia 18 months ago and worked as a food delivery driver.

Fire and Rescue NSW found that an incompatible charger was powering the bike at the time of the fire and likely caused it to overheat and catch fire.

A group of five people managed to escape as the fire tore through the home and left extensive damage in its wake.

Five others managed to escape the home. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The fire caused extensive damage to the home. Picture: FRNSW

Fire and Rescue NSW Assistant Commissioner Michael Morris said firefighters were “confronted” with the escaped occupants who said there was a resident still inside a bedroom on fire.

Mr Ali was treated by paramedics; however, he died at the scene.

“We really need people to understand not to charge lithium-ion batteries while they’re sleeping, to make sure that they’re not on charge in the exit pathways,” Fire and Rescue NSW Assistant Commissioner Michael Morris said.

“We’re really encouraging people to ensure that they have working smoke alarms to provide the earliest possible opportunity of notification if something’s gone wrong.”

FRNSW and NSW Police are preparing information for the coroner.

Anyone with information has been urged to come forward.