Alarming footage of a lithium battery exploding and sparking a house fire in Halifax has been released by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) to highlight the dangers of such batteries. The video shows a homeowner rushing downstairs after being woken by a popping sound from a re-charging battery, which then bursts into flames.
The incident occurred on 24 February at around 01:00 GMT, when batteries from an electric motorbike were left charging inside the house. Five people were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, with one person sustaining burns to their mouth and windpipe. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
Watch manager John Cavalier said: 'While fires involving lithium batteries are common, having a video showing the violence of the fire's development is not. It's clear to see in the video that the fire is absolutely horrifying. None of us would want this to happen in our homes.' He explained that the popping sound indicated 'thermal runaway', where too much heat is generated within a battery, leading to an explosion.
The kitchen was severely damaged by smoke and heat. Mr Cavalier noted that firefighters 'frequently' attend such fires, which spread much faster than typical house fires. He urged the public not to leave lithium batteries charging unattended, to keep them away from exits and hallways, and to unplug chargers when batteries are fully charged.
The homeowner allowed the fire service to release the video for educational purposes, which Mr Cavalier said 'could help to save lives'.
