On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) was called to a house fire in Yarang Court, Heathmont at 3.31pm, after people rang Triple Zero (000) to report it. Firefighters arrived within seven minutes and found the top floor of a two-storey brick home alight.
The good news is the people inside got out safely. A working smoke alarm warned them in time.
What happened
The response was escalated to a second alarm, and crews wearing breathing apparatus worked to bring the fire under control. FRV had 11 appliances and 32 firefighters at the scene, with CFA firefighters assisting. Ambulance Victoria and a council building surveyor also attended. The fire was declared under control at 3.55pm.
The suspected cause was a pair of Bluetooth earbuds left on charge.
Thanks to the FRV and CFA crews who turned out on a Saturday afternoon, and to FRV for sharing the details so the rest of us can learn from it.
Why this matters for your home
Earbuds are about the smallest thing most of us charge. They sit on a bedside table or the kitchen bench, and we don't think twice about them. So it's a good reminder that anything with a lithium-ion battery can overheat if something goes wrong.
FRV's message on smoke alarms is simple: only working smoke alarms save lives. Fires are fast, and a small fire can spread to an entire room in minutes. When you're asleep you lose your sense of smell, so a working alarm is what wakes you up.
Smoke alarm tips from FRV
Have alarms in every bedroom and living area. FRV says research shows that when a fire starts in a bedroom with the door closed, an alarm in the hallway outside may not go off.
Make sure they work. It's the working alarm that counts, so check yours and replace any that aren't.
Have a look at FRV's smoke alarm brochure. It covers the types of alarms and what they cost, and it's available in 21 languages other than English.
Charging tips for small devices
FRV, CFA and Energy Safe Victoria have shared this advice for anything with a lithium-ion battery, from earbuds and phones to e-scooters:
Use the charger and cord that came with the device.
Charge on a hard, non-combustible surface, not on a bed, couch or carpet.
Charge in a room where there's a smoke alarm.
Don't charge anything next to a door you'd need to get out through.
Unplug once it's fully charged, and avoid leaving devices charging unattended or overnight.
Stop using a device that is swelling, leaking, getting very hot, smelling odd, or popping or hissing.
If a battery catches fire, get out and call Triple Zero (000). Don't try to put it out yourself.
So tonight might be a good time to check two things: is your smoke alarm working, and where do the earbuds and phones charge in your house?
You can read FRV's full advice at frv.vic.gov.au/smoke-alarms and frv.vic.gov.au/battery-safety.
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