Lithium-ion Battery Fire Prompts Renewed Safety Warning in Byron Bay

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is renewing its warning about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries after a man's pants caught fire in Byron Bay.

The Northern NSW Local Health District (LHD) has confirmed a 56-year-old Brisbane man went to Byron Central Hospital at 3:15pm on Saturday.

The ABC understands the man was in a public area near Main Beach when his pants caught on fire.

It is understood he told the hospital he had coins in his pocket, along with a vape containing a lithium-ion battery.

The LHD said the man was discharged after being treated for a minor burn to his leg.

He has been referred to the Royal Brisbane Hospital’s burns clinic for review.

FRNSW Duty Commander Fraser Hindry said it was unusual for someone to be injured in that way, but people needed to take care.

"Fire and Rescue attend quite a number of calls to fires caused by damaged lithium-ion batteries or batteries that are overcharging," he said.

"It's one of our high priorities, as far as fire prevention is concerned, and there are ongoing investigations into the safe manufacture and storage of these batteries."

According to FRNSW data, there have been 38 battery-related incidents categorised as involving "small portable devices" so far this year.

FRNSW said battery-related incidents were recorded in major categories, not down to the level of how many were caused from vapes themselves.

NSW Health said it did not have any figures on vape burn injuries.

'Illicit vape crisis'

Australian Council on Smoking and Health chief executive Laura Hunter said vape fires were inevitable because a majority of devices in Australia were imported illicitly and did not comply with safety standards.

"This is not the first time a vape has exploded and caused serious burns and unfortunately it won't be the last," she said.

"This is an awful reminder about how harmful these products are, both as a highly flammable gadget if they're damaged or overheated or poorly manufactured, on top of the toxic chemicals and huge nicotine heat your body is not designed to handle."

Ms Hunter said authorities needed to crack down on vapes.

"The illegal market at the moment is thriving and enforcement across states and territories needs to ramp up to address this illicit vape crisis," she said.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said more than 4,800 kilograms of vapes had been collected and sent for processing by licensed contractors since it launched its embedded batteries trial in September 2024.

Under the trial, vapes can be disposed of at the 34 community recycling centres across NSW.

The EPA said the trail was designed to keep hazardous products such as vapes out of household bins and reduce fire risks during waste collection and processing.

'Fires every week'

North East Waste Resource and Recovery education coordinator Linda Tohver said the number of vapes being disposed of incorrectly was a problem.

"We are seeing them in all different places, in public place bins, in our recycling bins," she said.

Ms Tohver said her organisation had been lobbying the EPA to fund more drop-off centres for vapes and other items with embedded batteries.

"The health risk for one person in Byron — that [is also an issue] for people in the waste management facilities,"

"We are seeing fires every week pretty much in the region in one of our waste management facilities or trucks."