A caravan parked in a suburban driveway has been destroyed by a fire which spread to a nearby house and car in Queensland’s Gold Coast in the early hours of this morning.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that the caravan had been parked close to a home with the flames spreading to the exterior of the property and causing heat and smoke damage to a vehicle in the driveway.
Fences and trees in Floribunda Place, Ormeau reportedly also caught fire as flames leapt from the caravan.
The occupants of the home were not injured.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control within an hour and stopped the flames from spreading to the inside of the home.
Emergency services were quickly on the scene. PIC: QPS
The Brisbane Courier Mail reports that firefighters were forced to move the vehicle into the street to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby house.
Police said the street was ‘lit up’ during the early morning blaze.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman told the Gold Coast Bulletin that the incident was not being treated as suspicious.
He said initial investigations suggest a Lithium-ion battery in the caravan could be to blame.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) spokesman said multiple fire crews responded to the incident, but the caravan was already engulfed in flames by the time emergency services arrived on scene.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that neighbours reported hearing what sounded like an explosion shortly before the fire broke out.
Investigations into the cause of the fire will continue.
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We need to know the brand so everyone can check their batteries /wiring systems.
The article suggests a Lithium-Ion battery as a possible cause – these are like rechargeable batteries in phones, mobility devices and other rechargeable appliances. There have been a number of house fires from these overheating when being charged, hence advice not to leave unattended, on a flammable surface, or connected after fully charged.
Most Lithium batteries caravans in Australia are Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4).
Lithium ion is different to a LiFe van battery – most likely from an electrical device like a phone.
So when will the findings on how it started be published.
1..Why can’t they tell us what brand they are?
2..if they have a battery management system built into them?
3..if they have a battery management system built in…have they turned that part off…hence a fire happens.
Read the above posts. I have two lithium batteries in my caravan, under my bed no issues for 3 years. I won’t let hubby charge his lithium-ion batteries for his drill in the caravan . We’re full time on the road.