E-bike factory in Croydon, Sydney engulfed by flames as firefighters issue lithium-ion battery warning
A Sydney e-bike factory has gone up in flames in a wild blaze.
The fire ignited in a small warehouse in Croydon about 5am, quickly engulfing the building behind a row of shops.
Firefighters needed to slice through a roller door and douse the fire from outside due to concerns parts of the building may collapse.
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Some 60 firefighters battled for more than two hours to contain the fire, with some remaining on scene for several more hours to continue to douse hotspots.
No injuries have been reported.
The cause remains unknown, with fire investigators due to enter the building once it is declared safe.
The blaze comes after the consumer watchdog recently warned about lithium-ion battery fires.
Lithium-ion fires are self-sustaining due to chain reactions inside the battery, making them difficult to put out and allowing them to spontaneously reignite.
While rare given the number of devices on the market, the increasing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in homes and businesses has raised the risk of serious fires due to storage and charging issues.
Fire authorities warn against using after-market or low-cost chargers, which can vary in quality.
