An Australian state’s 100th e-rideable fire for 2025 has left occupants to pick through the ruins of their home and triggered a fresh warning over the safety of lithium-ion batteries, a technology even experts concede “we don’t yet fully understand”.

The fast-moving blaze tore through a two-storey terrace in Redfern in Sydney on Friday morning.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: NSW crews called to 100th e-bike fire of year.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow

Firefighters were met with intense flames bursting from the ground floor and pushing up over the second-level balcony of the Lawson St property about 4am.

Two adjoining terrace homes were evacuated as crews checked the fire had not spread through the roof space.

Solid brick walls helped restrict flames from advancing and the emergency was brought under control in about 30 minutes and no one was hurt.

Burn patterns and statements from people living at the home indicate the fire was started by a lithium-ion battery in an e-bike on the ground floor, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) said.

The fire is the 100th e-bike or e-scooter battery fire responded to by FRNSW this year, prompting a fresh warning about their safety.

FRNSW’s lithium-ion battery safety steps:

• Always use the correct charger for your device — never mix and match.
• Only by e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries from reputable retailers.
• Avoid cheap online imports that may not meet Australian electrical standards.
• Never charge batteries overnight or while you asleep.
• Do not modify batteries or devices to increase speed or range.
• Dispose of damaged or end-of-life batteries at a battery recycling facility.
• Ensure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home as a minimum.

On top of the 100 e-rideable fires, Superintendent Adam Dewberry said there had been about another 200 fires caused by batteries in other devices including power banks, phones, vapes and even toothbrushes.

“And that’s just the ones we know about,” he told 7NEWS.com.au.

An e-bike fire in Redfern has prompted a fresh safety warning over lithium-ion batteries. Credit: Fire and Rescue NSWAn e-rideable fire in the 100th this year. Credit: Fire and Rescue NSWThe fast-moving fire tore through a multilevel terrace home. Credit: Fire and Rescue NSW

Fire safety expert David Lange, an associate professor from the University of Queensland, said lithium-ion batteries burn in a way that is dramatically different from other fires fueled in the home and work environment.

“For example, thermal runaway, which is the mechanism by which batteries do become involved in a fire, can result in a pressure build-up inside of a battery cell followed by a sudden and quite dramatic release of combustible gasses,” Lange told 7NEWS.com.au.

“Under the right conditions these gasses can ignite, and because of the nature of that initiating event, the thermal energy can be released very quickly.

“Practically, what this means is that the time to respond to a battery fire can be significantly shorter than the time to respond to other house or building fires.

“This can make evacuation and any firefighting efforts very challenging.”

‘No way’: Boss of major Aussie bicycle company will not let kids near e-bikes

2 min read

‘Significant’: Why experts back new ban on Qantas, Virgin flights

2 min read

The dangers of portable power banks, which are often powered by rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, is behind a recent ban on planes.

Data suggests that charging lithium-ion batteries using equipment sourced from non-reputable manufacturers “can create risks”, as can the impact of heating and mechanical damage to them, Lange said.

“This is an emerging risk, and a technology which has completely infiltrated all parts of our lives in so many ways,” the professor, who has lead research projects on lithium-ion battery fire safety, said.

“I think it’s fair to say that we don’t yet fully understand all of the impacts of battery fires or how to manage these.

“While it’s important to support their use we need to be able to get in front of and address the associated fire safety risks proactively to be able to continue their adoption sustainably.”

A ban on power bank use has been brought in to reduce the risk of lithium-ion fires on planes. Credit: @aviationbrk (X, formerly Twitter) / AAP

The warning comes as Queensland authorities launched a new safety campaign around e-scooters and e-bikes ahead of Christmas.

The ads, focused on use and legality, rather than fire dangers, will be rolled out on music platform Spotify, social media and at at bus stops amid a soaring number of injuries and deaths linked to the devices.

Queensland has recorded 18 e-scooter deaths and several e-bike fatalities in the past three years.

Authorities say that while they can be fun and a convenient way to move around, “they are not toys”.

“These devices can be deadly if misused or ridden outside the legal age and safety requirements, with visits to hospital emergency departments … increasing at an alarming rate,” said Joanna Robinson, the general manager of land transport, safety, and regulation at the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

“Penalties and fines will be issued to those who break the law.”

Disaster cash announced for residents hardest hit by superstorms

3 min read

Waterbombers and helitaks tackle threatening blaze burning in Perth’s south

1 min read