Latest news with #DFES
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Lithium battery fires so far in 2025 almost double those in entire 2020
The number of fires caused by exploding lithium-ion batteries so far this year is almost double the number of fires for the entire 2020 — and it's only August. Firefighters have attended 94 lithium-ion battery fires this year, an average of three a week, and almost double the 49 blazes for the whole of 2020. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said almost a third of the fires in WA involved batteries which ignited when they were not charging. The fires were caused by household items like laptops, power banks, and power tools, along with e-rideables which sparked 19 blazes. The latest incident was on Friday morning at a commercial premises in Bentley, with minor damage to the building believed to have been caused by an e-rideable left on charge. DFES said the batteries could enter a dangerous state described as a 'thermal runway', which caused them to overheat, explode or emit toxic gas. Poor-quality, damaged or over-charged products were known to cause battery failure. DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm said people needed to be cautious with their devices, regardless of how common or small they were. 'Be careful where you store your lithium-ion battery products and ensure they're charged on a hard surface, away from flammable items such as beds, carpet or couches,' he said. 'I also urge people to install and check their smoke alarms, particularly in garages — we see a lot of fires starting in carports as people often store their power tools and other devices there.' Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said devices containing lithium-ion batteries were an emerging risk. 'They're something so common now that people potentially don't see them as that danger they represent,' he said. Commissioner Klemm said vacuum cleaners were another risk. 'A lot of people I speak to don't realise in particular, with a battery-operated vacuum cleaner - that is not something that should be sort of stowed away in the laundry cupboard on charge,' he said. 'Hanging there all the time… that is a risk.' Mr Papalia said purchasing devices locally, which comply with the law, was the safest option. 'Everyone should seek to buy these bits of kit from reputable suppliers, if you're going to buy an e-scooter or any e-rideable — buy it from a reputable source here,' he said. Commissioner Klemm said batteries should be charged in open, ventilated areas and not left unattended. He urged people to regularly check for signs of physical damage or overheating and to take devices off charge before sleeping. People who want to get rid of batteries were advised to check the Recycle Right WA website for a safe disposal process.
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Department of Fire and Emergency Services say lithium-ion battery devices spark fires at alarming rate in WA
Phones, e-rideables and vapes are among the lithium-ion battery devices sparking fires at an alarming rate across WA. So far this year, firefighters have responded to 93 lithium-ion battery fires — an average of three every week. Nearly one-third of these fires involved batteries igniting even when they were not on charge. Laptops, power banks and power tools are also among the lithium-ion battery devices catching fire and contributing to the alarming statistic. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said poor quality, damaged or over-charged products are proven to contribute to a battery failing and sparking a fire. Batteries enter a state known as thermal runaway, causing them to overheat, explode or emit toxic gas. Thermal runaway can result in a fire starting several metres away from the device, potentially engulfing an entire home in minutes. DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm has pleaded with West Aussies to remain vigilant as lithium-ion batteries are posing a serious fire risk in homes. 'Lithium-ion batteries are generally safe if purchased from trusted retailers and handled responsibly but compromised products that enter into thermal runaway can escalate quickly and cause devastating housefires,' he said. 'Be careful where you store your lithium-ion battery products and ensure they're charged on a hard surface, away from flammable items such as beds, carpet or couches. 'I also urge people to install and check their smoke alarms, particularly in garages — we see a lot of fires starting in carports as people often store their power tools and other devices there.' In 2024, firefighters responded to 178 lithium-ion battery fires — this was a five-year high. Now, in 2025, WA is on track for a record-breaking figure as it is just shy of 100 in the first week of August. Just two weeks ago, in Forrestfield, a young couple and their 12-month-old child were put at risk when a lithium-ion battery pack caught fire, engulfing the home in flames. A man in his 30s was taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation as a result. Earlier in the year, a home in Nollamara went up in flames after an e-scooter in the living room caught fire. It took firefighters hours to get the blaze under control.
West Australian
29-07-2025
- General
- West Australian
Western Australia leading the way after adoption of Emergency WA public warning system in Canada
Emergency warning technology designed for WA has been rolled out on the other side of the world in a Canadian province. Manitoba, a province in the centre of Canada, has released its version of the Emergency WA website, called MB Ready. The website features similar looking warning graphics marking 'wildfire' watch and acts, evacuation centres and road closures. The move comes amid 53 Western Australian firefighters having been deployed in Canada over the past months, tasked with battling deadly bushfires. Canada is currently fighting a horror bushfire season with multiple states of emergency declared and two people killed. DFES Public Information Manager Anni Fordham said the overseas adoption was proof Western Australia was leading the way on public safety messaging. 'With our significant experience, our State is really leading the way when it comes to emergency information and this is thanks to our depth of experience and also the world class systems that we've built,' she said. 'It's really clear from all the conversations I had there (Canada) that there is a really strong interest in the work that we're doing here, and it's something that we can be really, really proud of.' According to Ms Fordham multiple jurisdictions around Australia and overseas have also expressed interest.
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Tornado strikes Australia's exclusive suburb
Multi-million dollar houses and flashy cars have been destroyed after a freak tornado left a trail of destruction in one of Perth's most affluent suburbs. Incredible footage showed the wild weather hit City Beach just after 5pm on Wednesday with prime real estate in the coastal suburb bearing the brunt of the force. A huge waterspout was seen forming over the ocean near the City Beach oval before the tornado tore through the city ripping off roofs and downing trees. City Beach resident Tilly told ABC Radio Perth she felt like the house 'was about to fly away' as she watched the havoc unfold outside while sitting in her dining room. 'I literally just looked up through the window and saw a tornado,' she said. 'There was like a column of swirling wind, there was things flying in the air, bits of roof flying, tree branches, rubbish and it was all quite high up in the air, above the tree line. When I saw the bits of roof flying, I was worried it was going to come through the window, so I actually ducked under the table at one stage.' The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) received more than 100 calls for help. A Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman said its initial assessment of footage and radar observations indicate the wild weather was likely a tornado. 'Australia experiences 30 to 80 tornadoes each year, but it is possible that many more tornadoes occur in remote, unpopulated parts of Australia and therefore go unreported,' she said. 'During the cool season, there is an average of around five tornadoes reported in southwest Western Australia.' The Bureau said predicting tornadoes is difficult and specific warnings are only issued if signs consistent with tornadoes occurring are visible on radars or direct observations are received. In 2016, at least 7 tornadoes affected South Australia, leading to a state-wide power outage.
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Tornado tears through one of Australia's ritziest suburbs, ripping roofs off homes and uprooting trees
Multi-million dollar houses and flashy cars have been destroyed after a freak tornado left a trail of destruction in one of Perth 's most affluent suburbs. Incredible footage showed the wild weather hit City Beach just after 5pm on Wednesday with prime real estate in the coastal suburb bearing the brunt of the force. A huge waterspout was seen forming over the ocean near the City Beach oval before the tornado tore through the city ripping off roofs and downing trees. City Beach resident Tilly told ABC Radio Perth she felt like the house 'was about to fly away' as she watched the havoc unfold outside while sitting in her dining room. 'I literally just looked up through the window and saw a tornado,' she said. 'There was like a column of swirling wind, there was things flying in the air, bits of roof flying, tree branches, rubbish and it was all quite high up in the air, above the tree line. 'When I saw the bits of roof flying, I was worried it was going to come through the window, so I actually ducked under the table at one stage.' Another resident, Carlene, said she didn't see the storm coming but the sound of the wind outside was 'extraordinary.' 'All of a sudden, we heard this amazing, like, a roar, like a jet engine … the wind came through the house,' she told the radio station. 'The next door neighbour's trees are split in half.' The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) received more than 100 calls for help. A Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman said its initial assessment of footage and radar observations indicate the wild weather was likely a tornado. 'Australia experiences 30 to 80 tornadoes each year, but it is possible that many more tornadoes occur in remote, unpopulated parts of Australia and therefore go unreported,' she said. 'During the cool season, there is an average of around five tornadoes reported in southwest Western Australia.' She said there are two main types of tornadoes - supercells and non-supercells. 'Radar observations suggest this tornado may have been associated with a small supercell, although the mechanism is not actually clear-cut.' The Bureau said predicting tornadoes is difficult and specific warnings are only issued if signs consistent with tornadoes occurring are visible on radars or direct observations are received. In 2016, at least 7 tornadoes affected South Australia, leading to a state-wide power outage.
