Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) investigators suspect a faulty Lithium-ion battery caused a major house fire yesterday in Merrylands.
The blaze broke out in Murray Street, just before 2pm on August 27.
Six fire trucks and more than 24 firefighters battled the intense blaze for around 90-minutes, working desperately to stop flames spreading to neighbouring homes.
The fire caused extensive damage to the house. No-one was injured in the incident.
FRNSW’s Fire Investigation and Research Unit (FIRU) has assessed the fire scene and examined a large stockpile of Lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes kept on site.
Fire investigators believe the property housed an e-bike spare parts business.
They believe a faulty battery went into ‘thermal runaway,’ a process whereby an overheated cell caused a chain reaction, causing the intense fire.
FRNSW is warning the public to use extra caution when dealing with Lithium-ion battery-powered devices, including micromobility products like e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.