Latest news with #DarrenKlemm
ABC News
08-08-2025
- 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
08-08-2025
- 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.
The Independent
14-02-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Cyclone Zelia makes landfall in Western Australia as residents told its ‘too late to evacuate'
Severe tropical cyclone Zelia made landfall on Australia's west coast on Friday, bringing heavy wind gusts and record-breaking rainfall to the country's most resource-rich region. The storm made landfall at Western Australia 's Pilbara coast, 65km east of Port Hedland just after 12pm local time (4am GMT), according to Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). Rapidly intensifying to the highest Category 5 level, Zelia packed wind speeds of up to 290kmph (180mph) and moved faster than expected at 11kmph, the BoM said. By 2pm, it had begun tracking south and weakened slightly to a Category 4, but authorities warned the danger was far from over. The warning zone stretches from Wallal Downs to Whim Creek where residents are experiencing severe winds, power outages, and supply shortages. At least 124 people had sought refuge in evacuation centres in Port Hedland and Karratha. Port Hedland, a town of 15,000 people, narrowly missed the cyclone's core. Earlier, officials warned people to shelter in the strongest part of their house as it was 'too late' to evacuate. "There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately. Shelter indoors now. It is too late to leave,' Darren Klemm, commissioner of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of torrential rainfall, with up to 300mm (11.8 inches) expected in the next 24 hours and three-day totals of up to 500mm. Several rivers, including the De Grey River, are at risk of severe flooding. 'This is a very dangerous system that will cause significant impact,' said BoM forecaster Matthew Collopy. Meteorologist Angus Hines described the storm as 'catastrophic'. "Category 5 is the top of the scale. It does not get any worse than that, extremely damaging winds, widespread rain, flooding, and storm surge are all expected." Cyclone Zelia has paralysed Australia's iron ore exports, forcing the closure of major ports and mining operations across the Pilbara. Port Hedland, the world's largest iron ore export terminal, shut down on Wednesday, with major mining giants like BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, and Hancock halting operations and asking staff to shelter. "The company is working to mitigate impacts and will provide operational updates as appropriate," Rio Tinto said in a statement. Fortescue suspended operations at its Iron Bridge mining site, while BHP confirmed its Port Hedland personnel are sheltering in Category 5-rated facilities. Dampier, Cape Lambert, and Varanus Island ports, key hubs for iron ore and gas, were closed on Thursday evening. Cyclone Zelia went from a category three to a category five in 24 hours. In the last few years, the rapid intensification of tropical storms, in both the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, has become quite common due to hotter ocean waters. 'The elevated sea surface temperatures are playing a role in helping drive up the intensity as there's more moisture in the atmosphere and that's why severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia will potentially create flash flooding when it hits the coast,' climate councillor professor David Karoly said.
Al Jazeera
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Western Australia braces for ‘dangerous' Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Zelia
A Category 5 tropical cyclone – the strongest on the scale with the capacity to cause widespread destruction – is bearing down on the Pilbara coastal region in Western Australia, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology warned, as seaports shut and emergency services braced for potential damage. According to the bureau, Zelia is moving slowly and is due to make landfall late on Friday in the region that is home to major ports used for the export of commodities, including iron ore, and is also a processing hub for oil and gas supplies. 'The intensity of Tropical Cyclone Zelia means there is significant threat to lives and property and I urge people to follow the directions of emergency services in the Pilbara,' Darren Klemm, head of Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services, told a news conference on Thursday. The Bureau of Meteorology said the cyclone is likely to land near Port Hedland, the world's biggest export point for iron ore, which has been forced to close. Port Hedland is at particular risk from cyclone damage because its buildings are quite older, Klemm said. In a video published by the bureau explaining the situation, weather forecaster Dean Narramore said that with rainfall already recorded at 80 to 100mm (3.1 to 3.9 inches) in the area, heavier downpours are expected in the coming hours. 'And that's likely to lead to widespread flash and riverine flooding,' Narramore said. 'That's why we are so concerned about our residents through this part of the Pilbara coast,' he said. 'It is an intense and dangerous system,' he said. The region's Fire and Emergency Services issued a statement warning that Cyclone Zelia posed a 'possible threat to lives and homes' and urged people to take shelter. Those living in caravans, old or not well-maintained homes were urged to move to the nearest evacuation centre. Following the warnings, the ports of Dampier and Varanus Island were scheduled to close from 6pm local time on Thursday (10:00 GMT).
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Threat to life': Cat 5 cyclone declared in WA
Western Australian residents are being warned a category 5 system off the the Pilbara coast could cause 'significant threat to lives and property' in the next 24 hours. Tropical Cyclone Zelia is forecast to 'bring very destructive winds and very heavy rain to the Pilbara coast', the Bureau of Meteorology said on Thursday afternoon. WA emergency services commissioner Darren Klemm has warned residents to follow all directions from authorities as conditions worsen. 'The intensity of tropical cyclone Zelia means there is significant threat to lives and property and I urge people to follow the directions of emergency services in the Pilbara,' he said. 'We are significantly increased our resources in the past 24 hours in preparation for the destructive winds and heavy rainfall.' Zelia was a category three system around 130km to the north of Port Hedland at 6pm on Wednesday (AWST) and was moving 'very slowly' to the west and southwest. The Bureau has issued a cyclone warning from Bidyadanga to Dampier, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier, and extending inland to Marble Bar. Residents in these areas have been warned to expect increasing winds on Thursday afternoon moving into the night. 'We could see damaging to destructive winds developing by the coast tonight and to the early hours of tomorrow, particularly between Wind Creek and Wallal Downs, including Port Hedland,' senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said. 'We could also see very destructive winds near the core of this system as it crosses late Friday into (the) night with winds up to 290 km/h possible.' Tropical Cyclone Zelia is roughly 280km off the coast of Broome in Western Australia. 'This is a tricky storm to forecast because it is moving very slowly as it intensifies over the next 24 to 48 hours,' Sky News Weather Meteorologist Alison Osborne said. 'A tropical cyclone warning is now in effect for all coastal communities between Broome and Port Hedland.' The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued a cyclone advice alert just after 4pm (AWST) on Wednesday, warning residents south of Bidyadanga to Mardie and inland to Nullagine, as well as islands off the West Kimberley and Pilbara coast to prepare for dangerous weather. Main Roads WA have already announced sections of the Great Northern Highway, Marble Bar Rd and Ripon Hills Rd would be closed from 10.30am Thursday. More to come
