Authorities have recorded an increase in battery-related fires across parts of the country

Fire authorities warn of increased lithium ion battery fire risk for New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria as some parts of the country are seeing ‘one’ battery-related fire a week.

A fire rages in a battery storage bank at a power substation at Bouldercombe, near Rockhampton.

A nationwide surge in lithium battery blazes, including a 20 per cent jump in Queensland this year, has alarmed fire authorities. More than 450 fires have been linked to rechargeable ­lithium-ion batteries over the past 18 months, with NSW, Queensland and Victoria fire authorities saying a rise in their use could lead to explosive blazes if left unchecked.

A Fire Rescue Victoria spokeswoman said emergency crews were responding to an ave­rage of one significant ­lithium-ion battery fire each week and “this trend is expected to increase”.

In Queensland alone, 206 lithium ion battery-related fires have been recorded across the state to date since January 2022, while in NSW there were 279 lithium battery-related fires.

Fire and Rescue NSW are reminding homeowners to heed its warnings about the dangers of Lithium-Ion batteries: Picture Supplied

Fire Rescue Victoria shows a fire from a 13-tonne lithium battery unit at a Tesla battery site near Geelong in 2021: Photo AFP and Fire Rescue Victoria.

A fire rages in a battery storage bank at a power substation at Bouldercombe near Rockhampton.