Wolli Creek, NSW: 30 flee for life after e-bike battery blaze

Another lithium-ion battery has caught fire, forcing 30 people to evacuate from a high-rise apartment block.

Thirty people have fled for their lives after a suspected lithium-ion e-bike battery burst into flames at a high-rise apartment complex in Sydney’s south.

NSW Fire and Rescue crews from Arncliffe and nearby Marrickville raced to the blaze at the Arncliffe St complex in Wolli Creek on Saturday at 6pm.

Investigators believe a faulty lithium-ion battery was responsible for the e-bike fire, which broke out on the seventh floor.

The battery was on charge when it burst into flames, FRNSW said, setting fire to a bed.

The A burnt-out room in the apartment complex following Saturday’s e-bike fire. Picture: FRNSW

Thirty residents rushed out of their units to safety and paramedics treated a 30-year-old woman for smoke inhalation.

The battery fire is the second serious battery blaze to strike Sydney this month after a battery exploded at a backpackers’ hostel in Kings Cross on October 4.

FRNSW deployed 22 firefighters and six fire trucks to Darlinghurst Rd to battle the blaze.

CCTV shows two French nationals at the Mad Monkey Downtown Backpackers leaving their room into a hallway at 9.08am when a fireball suddenly explodes through the doorway.

Emergency personnel evacuated another 70 people from the building, while the surrounding streets were shut down for the response.

FRNSW has warned that lithium-ion batteries are a fast-growing fire risk and advises residents to never sleep or leave home with lithium battery-powered devices charging or leave them charging constantly.

“Don’t leave devices charging on beds, sofas or around highly flammable materials,” FRNSW said after the Wolli Creek fire.

“Try to charge devices outside if possible.”