Teenager narrowly escapes explosion on school commute

The 15-year-old boy jumped from the bike when he noticed the battery beginning to burn his leg as he rode along Botany Road in Alexandria just before 8am on August 28.

Shortly after stepping clear the Lithium-ion battery burst into flames, melting parts of the bike, Fire and Rescue NSW said.

Firefighter David Jordan was on his way to work when he noticed "a large plume of smoke" and ushered the teen and bystanders out of harm's way before helping to extinguish the flames.

"At first, I thought it was a building fire, the smoke was so thick, so I turned the corner and pulled over to assess the situation," he said.

The boy, who borrowed the bike from a teenage friend, said it was bought less than two months ago from a Sydney store.

"In this case, not only was the teen riding the bike very fortunate he wasn't harmed," Fire and Rescue acting assistant commissioner Brendan Cox said.

"But the e-bike is normally charged overnight in his friend's bedroom as he sleeps," he said.

Fire and Rescue declined to name the exact make and model of the bike but said a report had been submitted to Fair Trading.

This comes as a faulty Lithium-ion battery was suspected of causing a major house fire in Merrylands, Sydney on August 28.

Fire investigators believe the house was used as an e-bike spare parts business with "a large stockpile of Lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes kept on site".

Fire and Rescue said six fire trucks and more than 24 firefighters battled the house fire for an hour and a half as they worked to stop flames spreading to neighbouring homes.

When Lithium-Ion batteries overheat, they can release toxic gas and explode violently, Fire and Rescue said.

The agency urged those using Lithium-ion batteries to "keep an eye on the condition of your devices and ensure they are not damaged or compromised".

"If a fire does occur, remove yourself from harm's way and call Triple Zero," Fire and Rescue said.