Energy type: 
Electricity
 
Event summary: 
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) notified WorkSafe Energy Safety of a garage fire involving lithium ion batteries purchased from an overseas supplier.
 
Accident ID: 
180325-05
 
Accident date: 
24 March 2018
 
Site: 
Domestic
 
Environment: 
Building
 
Voltage: 
1
 
Equipment: 
Lithium ion battery
 
Accident type: 
Fire
 
Casualty: 
Non-fatality
 
Injury: 
No injury
 
Property damage level: 
Extended to multiple rooms
 
Outcome of investigation: 

The batteries purchased online were a replacement, resulting in the homeowner using a charger intended for batteries with different specifications. Lithium batteries are extremely volatile and should only be used with the correct charger intended for its specifications.

Because the batteries were purchased overseas (outside of NZ jurisdiction) WorkSafe Energy Safety was unable to conduct an audit on the supplier. The case was closed on that basis. 

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