The Battery in Your Home Could Be More Dangerous Than You Think
Last month, Melbourne recorded five lithium-ion battery fires in just 24 hours - the culprits being ordinary household devices. The human cost was immediate: people hospitalised, homes lost, lives upended. It’s a stark illustration of a risk that is growing faster than most Australians realise.
How big is the problem?
Energy Safe Victoria has advised that Victorian fire agencies now attend almost one lithium-ion battery-related fire every day across the state. What was once considered a fringe risk has quietly become routine.
The picture is similar nationally. According to Fire and Rescue NSW, people are four times more likely to be injured in a lithium-ion battery fire than in other types of fires, with 2024 marking NSW’s first two fatalities from such incidents. In South Australia, fire agency callouts have increased nearly tenfold over five years. In Western Australia, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority reported that 2024 was the worst year on record, with 166 fires, almost one every second day.
According to Allianz claims data, batteries and tools used around the home accounted for 59% of all lithium-ion insurance claims in 2025, while e-bikes and e-scooters were responsible for 33% of lithium-ion house fires. This is a growing concern as the average Australian household continues to increase its use of lithium-powered devices.
It's not just EVs
When most people think about lithium battery fires, they picture an electric vehicle. While EVs do carry a genuine risk, the far more common source of fires is the devices people charge inside their homes every day.
E-bikes parked in hallways. Power tools left charging overnight. Laptops on beds. Phone chargers running while everyone sleeps. These are the devices appearing in fire investigation reports week after week. As Fire Rescue Victoria Commissioner Gavin Freeman noted, FRV recently attended a significant house fire in Port Melbourne caused by nothing more than a handheld rechargeable tool with a faulty lithium-ion battery.
Why these fires are so different
Once a lithium-ion battery ignites, it can develop dangerous, self-sustaining flames and potentially release shrapnel and toxic gas. This process, known as thermal runaway, burns at extreme temperatures, spreads rapidly and produces smoke capable of causing serious injury and death well before flames reach a room. Unlike a conventional fire, water alone is often ineffective in the early stages, and a compromised battery can reignite hours later as internal cells remain hot.
Critically, as highlighted by Energy Safe Victoria, a battery does not need to be in use to be dangerous. Damaged, aftermarket or modified batteries are among the most common contributors to lithium-ion fires.
What you can do
Buy compliant products: As Energy Safe Victoria warns, aftermarket and non-manufacturer-approved batteries are among the leading risk factors. If a battery needs replacing, do not take shortcuts to save money.
Charge consciously: Never charge overnight or unattended, and keep devices off beds, couches and carpets.
Use the right charger: Fires frequently occur when incompatible or non-compliant chargers are used. Only use chargers supplied or recommended by the manufacturer.
Take e-bikes and e-scooters outside: Fire Rescue Victoria advises charging these devices in a safe, open space outside, or at minimum in a room with a smoke alarm, and never storing them in a way that could block exits.
Act on warning signs: Stop using or charging immediately if you notice strong odours, excessive heat, changes in shape, leaking or hissing and popping sounds.
The insurance side of things
Home and contents policies generally respond to fire damage, but the circumstances of how a fire starts do matter. A claim linked to a non-compliant product, a modified device or a charger that does not meet safety standards may invite closer scrutiny from an insurer.
One of the most important habits to adopt is speaking with your insurance broker as soon as you bring a new lithium-powered device into your home. Whether it is an e-bike, a home battery system or a new set of power tools, a quick conversation can confirm your cover is adequate before something goes wrong. It’s not just about protecting your belongings. It’s about ensuring you and your family stay safe.
Last month, Melbourne recorded five lithium-ion battery fires in just 24 hours - the culprits being ordinary household devices. The human cost was immediate: people hospitalised, homes lost, lives upended. It’s a stark illustration of a risk that is growing faster than most Australians realise.
How big is the problem?
Energy Safe Victoria has advised that Victorian fire agencies now attend almost one lithium-ion battery-related fire every day across the state. What was once considered a fringe risk has quietly become routine.
The picture is similar nationally. According to Fire and Rescue NSW, people are four times more likely to be injured in a lithium-ion battery fire than in other types of fires, with 2024 marking NSW’s first two fatalities from such incidents. In South Australia, fire agency callouts have increased nearly tenfold over five years. In Western Australia, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority reported that 2024 was the worst year on record, with 166 fires, almost one every second day.
According to Allianz claims data, batteries and tools used around the home accounted for 59% of all lithium-ion insurance claims in 2025, while e-bikes and e-scooters were responsible for 33% of lithium-ion house fires. This is a growing concern as the average Australian household continues to increase its use of lithium-powered devices.
It's not just EVs
When most people think about lithium battery fires, they picture an electric vehicle. While EVs do carry a genuine risk, the far more common source of fires is the devices people charge inside their homes every day.
E-bikes parked in hallways. Power tools left charging overnight. Laptops on beds. Phone chargers running while everyone sleeps. These are the devices appearing in fire investigation reports week after week. As Fire Rescue Victoria Commissioner Gavin Freeman noted, FRV recently attended a significant house fire in Port Melbourne caused by nothing more than a handheld rechargeable tool with a faulty lithium-ion battery.
Why these fires are so different
Once a lithium-ion battery ignites, it can develop dangerous, self-sustaining flames and potentially release shrapnel and toxic gas. This process, known as thermal runaway, burns at extreme temperatures, spreads rapidly and produces smoke capable of causing serious injury and death well before flames reach a room. Unlike a conventional fire, water alone is often ineffective in the early stages, and a compromised battery can reignite hours later as internal cells remain hot.
Critically, as highlighted by Energy Safe Victoria, a battery does not need to be in use to be dangerous. Damaged, aftermarket or modified batteries are among the most common contributors to lithium-ion fires.
What you can do
Buy compliant products: As Energy Safe Victoria warns, aftermarket and non-manufacturer-approved batteries are among the leading risk factors. If a battery needs replacing, do not take shortcuts to save money.
Charge consciously: Never charge overnight or unattended, and keep devices off beds, couches and carpets.
Use the right charger: Fires frequently occur when incompatible or non-compliant chargers are used. Only use chargers supplied or recommended by the manufacturer.
Take e-bikes and e-scooters outside: Fire Rescue Victoria advises charging these devices in a safe, open space outside, or at minimum in a room with a smoke alarm, and never storing them in a way that could block exits.
Act on warning signs: Stop using or charging immediately if you notice strong odours, excessive heat, changes in shape, leaking or hissing and popping sounds.
The insurance side of things
Home and contents policies generally respond to fire damage, but the circumstances of how a fire starts do matter. A claim linked to a non-compliant product, a modified device or a charger that does not meet safety standards may invite closer scrutiny from an insurer.
One of the most important habits to adopt is speaking with your insurance broker as soon as you bring a new lithium-powered device into your home. Whether it is an e-bike, a home battery system or a new set of power tools, a quick conversation can confirm your cover is adequate before something goes wrong. It’s not just about protecting your belongings. It’s about ensuring you and your family stay safe.
