Girl in hospital as family of five escapes electric skateboard fire

A 12-year-old girl is in hospital after an electric skateboard she was charging in her room caught fire on the NSW North Coast.

An electric scooter caught fire while it was charging in a girl’s bedroom. Picture: Supplied

An electric skateboard fire has left a 12-year-old girl suffering from a serious case of smoke inhalation on the NSW North Coast.

The child was woken by a crackling sound of her electric skateboard on fire near midnight as it charged in her bedroom at her family’s Cameron St home in Yamba.

The girl and four members of her family safely made it out of the house as Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Yamba, Maclean and Grafton arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire caused by the skateboard’s lithium-ion battery.

The skateboard caught fire. Picture: Supplied

The girl was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Fire crews discovered the smoke alarm at the house was inoperative and missing a battery while extinguishing the fire.

The electric skateboard was purchased as a Christmas gift last year.

Firefighters warn Christmas shoppers to use caution this year when purchasing lithium-ion-powered mobility vehicles such as e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards.

It’s believed the battery overheated. Picture: Supplied

“Don’t overcharge lithium-ion batteries or allow them to overheat,” FRNSW urged in a statement.

“Always use compliant and approved charging stations/equipment. Avoid dropping, crushing, piercing or vibrating the power cells.

“Carefully and lawfully dispose of any battery that short circuits, malfunctions and/or suffers a system fault/s.

“Be aware of defects or contamination introduced during manufacture.”

FRNSW also urged the public to ensure their home smoke alarms were maintained and in working order.

Originally published as Girl in hospital as family of five escapes electric skateboard fire