Devastating Battery Fire Leads to Couple's Awareness Mission

In March this year, Sunbury couple Jim and Maria Johnstone faced a devastating house fire that destroyed their home and took the lives of their two pets. The cause? A lithium-ion battery from their pool cleaner that was not charging or being used. The battery, sitting on a table on their back deck, suddenly exploded, leading to the catastrophic fire.

Neither Jim nor Maria were home during the incident, but the fire burned  fast — and the loss was immense.

Jim  first learned of the fire when his doorbell camera sent an alert to his phone. He opened the camera feed on his phone and saw two strangers kicking down his front door, yelling 'fire'. When the door gave way, he saw smoke billowing out  of the doorway.

"That's when I knew the house was gone," Jim said.

As well as their treasured, one-of-a-kind home and a lifetime of memories, Jim and Maria lost their Spoodle,  Lucy and cat, Daisy. The couple's  other dog Millie survived the fire after a witness smashed a window, allowing her to jump free.

Jim and Maria's home: before and after the fire.

Jim and Maria Call for Regulatory Change for Lithium Batteries 

After the battery blaze caught media attention, they used their platform to advocate for increased awareness and regulatory changes. They said they'd like to see manufacturers of li-ion battery powered products provide more warning labels and information about the potential risks with their products.

They also called for more regulation and higher standards around the importation and sale of li-ion batteries in Australia. Maria told Storemasta that before this incident, they had no idea a li-ion battery could explode when not charging or being used and they had no idea of the risks.

"We thought that if it wasn't on charge, it wasn't dangerous and that's what we’ve got to get out,” she said. "I think everyone needs a fire-proof cabinet for everything they have with a lithium battery.

Because if anything goes up, they lose everything. We lost our pets, which were our family. But people can lose their lives and their children, which is really horrific."

Storemasta's Battery Cabinet Gift

Storemasta, a leading manufacturer of dangerous goods storage solutions, was deeply moved by their story. In response, CEO Caleb Urquhart travelled to Melbourne to meet with Jim and Maria and donate an 18-outlet Lithium-ion Battery Charging Cabinet.

With features including a cooling fan, a flammable electrolyte spill sump, double-walled sheet steel construction, certified electrical components and firm-closing, self-latching steel doors, the cabinets are designed to help workplaces increase safety and compliance.

Jim and Maria in their new home, with their Battery Charging Cabinet

Jim said until Storemasta reached out, he wasn't aware Li-ion Battery Charging Cabinets existed.

"Fair enough there’s cabinets around that are fire-proof, bomb-proof, call it whatever you want," he said.

"But I certainly wasn't aware that you guys made a cabinet where you could charge the batteries inside it. That to me is an awesome piece of kit."

"We're going to store every single lithium-ion battery we own in it. Including our laptop computers and watches."

Caleb Urquart and Jim Johnstone discussing lithium-ion battery safety and storage.

Jim and Maria Add to Widespread Calls for Action on Batteries

Jim and Maria are just the latest to join the chorus of voices calling for change. With the rate of li-ion battery related fires and incidents rising rapidly across Australia there have been calls for a complete and consistent regulatory framework.

Ministers Unite to Accelerate Battery Regulatory Reforms

State Environment ministers from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland gathered in Sydney in June where they agreed to work together to lead action on reforms to Australia’s product stewardship arrangements for all batteries. They agreed to accelerate this work in response to ongoing fires and emergency situations caused predominantly by li-ion batteries embedded inside a range of devices.

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said Fire and Rescue NSW attended almost 300 lithium-ion battery fires in 2023 alone.

"We know that this is just a fraction of the true number of battery fires," she said.

"Today Ministers from around the country agreed it is time for urgent action to protect our communities.

State ministers have also been in talks with the federal government to strengthen laws surrounding lithium-ion batteries. Currently, electrical safety is regulated by each state and territory.

ACCC Recommends Improved National Regulation and Testing

In October, the ACCC published a report which noted that the current regulatory framework does not comprehensively address the hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries.

The ACCC last year called for improved national regulation and testing in the sector as there are currently no nationally consistent requirements for testing.

It found one in six electrical goods retailers inspected by NSW Fair Trading in the last year had sold battery chargers that did not meet regulatory standards.

Researcher says Education is Key

Matthew Priestley from the Energy Systems Research Group at UNSW told news.com.au that energy storage technology needs to be safe as they are vital in the uptake of renewable energy.

"It’s important that the public and industry do not perceive it to be dangerous,” he said.

“But at the moment, most people do not have an adequate understanding about the risks associated with these batteries, or enough respect for them. I don’t think there is enough education regarding proper use and storage, and recycling or disposal. That is the key moving forward.”

What Makes a Battery Fire So Dangerous?

As a self-sustaining fire, these blazes are extremely hot, fast burning and are hard to contain. This places a real strain on the emergency services attending the site. The battery fires release dangerous fumes which can cause harm to the community. Potential explosions only heighten the risk to people, workplaces and the surrounding area.

Firefighters in Australia currently use water to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires, but the blazes have proven to be extremely challenging to put out. The lithium-ion battery, being so susceptible to heat, will continue to catch alight even after it’s been extinguished.

How to Reduce the Risk and Potential Damage of a Lithium-ion Battery Fire

To reduce the likelihood and impact of a lithium battery fire, there are some simple steps you can take to lower risk.

1. Inspect Your Li-ion Batteries

One of the biggest problems with li-ion batteries is that damage to the battery can lead to major safety issues such as thermal runaway, battery fires or explosions. To control risk, make sure you’re inspecting your batteries regularly and handling them with care.

The only way you can prevent or contain a li-ion battery fire is by first understanding the hazards. You must also read all instructions to ensure the batteries are being used, stored, charged and disposed of correctly.

3. Only Use Suitable Chargers

Perhaps the easiest safety measure to implement is to make sure you’re only using a suitable charger for your battery. Don’t buy cheap imported chargers that don’t comply with local regulations.

4. Store Lithium-ion Batteries Safely

The way you store your li-ion cells is fundamental to the safety of your household or workplace. Batteries require a secure, dry, cool and well-ventilated storage environment to remain safe and stable.

5. Invest In Lithium-ion Battery Fire Suppression

There are a few tiers to battery safety, from handling to storage, and training to fire prevention and li-ion battery safety. While handling and storage practices can limit the risk of a lithium-ion battery fire, accidents can still happen. That’s why many workplaces are investing in fire suppression systems to assist with fire containment in li-ion storage areas.

6. Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are a vital part of your fire safety strategy. While you may already have them installed in your kitchen and bedrooms, make sure you don’t forget to install them in areas where lithium batteries are being stored, charged or used.

Learn More about Lithium-ion Battery Risks and How to Control Them

Storemasta is dedicated to raising awareness about the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries and is proud to support Johnstone's efforts to educate others about these risks. We hope their story will inspire more people to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their homes and loved ones. To learn more about assessing and controlling risk, we recommend reading our eBook The Risk Assessment Process for Workplace Batteries. This free guide will take you through the steps of identifying hazards with your lithium-ion and lead acid batteries. Grab your copy today to learn more about lithium-ion battery safety.