A home has been destroyed and firefighters have issued a warning about lithium-ion batteries after a blaze erupted north of Newcastle.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews from multiple stations rushed to a property at Tea Gardens just before 3pm on Wednesday, June 3.
Firefighters found the home well alight, with a vehicle in the attached garage also on fire, and got to work extinguishing the flames.
Crews battled with a reignition and remained at the scene until about 6pm.
The home was destroyed by fire and the roof collapsed.
A FRNSW spokesperson confirmed the occupants managed to evacuate themselves before emergency services arrived.
NSW Police and FRNSW investigators were looking into the cause of the fire on Thursday and were yet to confirm what sparked the blaze.
But as investigations continued, FRNSW Stockton issued a warning about batteries, with that a suspected cause.
A spokesperson from the Stockton brigade said lithium-ion batteries could be found in phones, laptops, e-bikes, electric vehicles, power tools and toys, toothbrushes, smart watches, and more.
"These batteries represent the fastest-growing fire risk in NSW," they said.
Read more: E-bike repair pierced lithium-ion battery before fatal Teralba house fire
Overcharging, non-compliant chargers, damage, overheating and manufacturing defects could cause a "self-sustaining chemical reaction" within the batteries, known as "thermal runway", which can lead to a fierce fire, toxic gases and explosion.
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The spokesperson urged people to consider doing the following:
They said people needing help or advice on fire and battery safety could book a free Home Safety Visit with FRNSW.
A major coronial inquiry into lithium-ion batteries, as well as coronial inquests into three related deaths, began in NSW Coroners Court in October last year.
A man conducting makeshift repairs to an e-bike pierced the lithium-ion battery with a screw, causing several explosions and an intense fire that destroyed a townhouse at Teralba and caused the death of two women, the inquest heard.
The coronial inquiry ran for three days and will reconvene in August 2026 to examine the specific circumstances of four major fires between 2023 and 2025, including the Teralba blaze.
