PERTH, AUSTRALIA — A Perth man is lucky to be alive after a terrifying incident involving his e-scooter’s lithium-ion battery, which exploded without warning as he was changing a tyre in his garage.
The dramatic scene unfolded on Monday afternoon, when Jason M., 34, was performing what he thought would be a simple tyre change on his high-powered electric scooter at his home in Morley, a suburb north of Perth. Moments later, he found himself face-to-face with a fireball.
“It Just Blew Up Right in Front of Me”
“I was kneeling down next to the scooter, loosening the bolts on the rear tyre,” Jason recalled. “Then I heard this high-pitched hiss — and within seconds, the battery just exploded.”
Security footage from his garage shows a sudden burst of flames and smoke shooting from the battery compartment, less than a metre from where Jason was working. The explosion sent sparks flying and ignited the side of the scooter frame, as thick smoke quickly began to fill the space.
“Honestly, it sounded like a gunshot,” he said. “The heat was instant — if I had been any closer to the battery pack, it would’ve gone straight in my face.”
Quick Thinking with a Fire Extinguisher
Despite the shock, Jason acted fast. He had kept a fire extinguisher nearby — a habit he developed after watching videos of lithium-ion battery fires online.
“I’ve seen what those batteries can do, and I always thought, ‘What if it happens to me?’ So I bought a small extinguisher just in case. Never thought I’d actually have to use it.”
Within seconds, Jason grabbed the extinguisher and managed to douse the flames before they spread to the rest of the garage, potentially saving his home from a much larger fire.
Fire and Emergency Services were called to the scene but confirmed the blaze had been extinguished by the time they arrived.
A spokesperson for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) praised Jason’s quick thinking:
“In cases involving lithium-ion batteries, fires can escalate rapidly. This resident did the right thing by having an extinguisher on hand and acting quickly, which likely prevented a serious incident.”
Battery Fires on the Rise
Incidents like Jason’s are becoming increasingly common as more Australians adopt electric scooters, e-bikes, and other battery-powered transport. Fire authorities across the country have been issuing warnings about the dangers of lithium-ion battery failures, particularly when devices are poorly maintained, modified, or charged improperly.
In Jason’s case, he insists he always took precautions.
“This wasn’t some cheap no-name scooter,” he said. “It’s a reputable brand, and I’ve always stored and charged the battery as instructed. That’s what’s so scary — this happened during maintenance, not charging.”
Lithium-ion battery fires are notoriously unpredictable. Thermal runaway — the process by which the battery overheats and ignites — can be triggered by physical damage, overheating, manufacturing defects, or even spontaneous failure.
Authorities Urge Caution
The DFES and other safety bodies have urged owners of e-scooters and other lithium-powered devices to:
- Only use approved chargers and batteries
- Never modify battery systems or enclosures
- Store and charge devices away from flammable materials
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when working on or charging devices
- Avoid charging overnight or when unsupervised
“We want to stress that these devices are generally safe when used correctly,” the DFES spokesperson said, “but users need to understand the risks involved with lithium-ion batteries, particularly as they age or sustain damage.”
“Could’ve Been So Much Worse”
Jason says the experience has left him shaken — and thankful.
“I’ve got a wife and two kids. If that battery had exploded while I was out and the scooter was charging in the garage, it could’ve burned the whole house down. Or worse — someone could’ve been hurt.”
He plans to replace the entire battery system and now stores the e-scooter outside in a locked shed, well away from the house.
“My advice to anyone with an e-scooter: get a fire extinguisher. Keep it close. And treat these batteries with respect. You never know when it might save your life.”