NSW family's home destroyed by toy car in a matter of hours.

The Harragon family from New South Wales' Hunter Valley is facing a devastating loss after a small lithium battery, used to charge a remote control car, caused a fire that destroyed their home. Lucy Harragon and her husband Taylor had planned a fun afternoon for their four and five-year-old children last Sunday. They went out to do some shopping and then returned home to race the toy cars with their kids. Little did they know, this innocent plan would turn into a nightmare.

Earlier that morning, Taylor had put one of the toy cars on charge in their garage in Cessnock. The family left for their shopping trip around 11am and two hours later, they received a frantic call from a friend who had driven past their house and noticed smoke coming from the garage. They immediately called for help, but unfortunately, no one was home to answer the doorbell. Other neighbors also called emergency services while the family rushed back home, their hearts filled with dread during the longest 30-minute drive of their lives.

Lucy recalls the moment they arrived and saw their once-beloved home in ruins. The roof had caved in and the beams were falling down. It was a devastating sight for the family. Although they were able to salvage a few sentimental items, most of their belongings were destroyed. A GoFundMe page was set up to help them get through the upcoming holiday season.

The cause of the fire was later confirmed by the police to be the small lithium battery that was left charging in the garage. This incident is sadly just one of many caused by lithium batteries. In fact, last year alone, Fire and Rescue NSW responded to 267 fires caused by these batteries. While traditionally, e-bikes and other similar devices were the main culprits, smaller portable devices like shavers, phones, electric toothbrushes, and toys have now taken the lead.

Lucy and her husband were shocked by the destruction caused by such a small and seemingly harmless battery. They hope that by sharing their story, they can raise awareness about the potential dangers of lithium batteries. Lucy urges people to be mindful and never leave these batteries charging unattended. She also advises disposing of damaged batteries properly and not leaving devices charging near flammable materials.

To prevent battery fires, it is recommended to never leave your devices charging while sleeping or leaving the house. It is also important to not leave them constantly charging and to dispose of damaged batteries properly. Charging devices outside and purchasing reputable brands are also ways to minimize the risk of a fire. Let us all learn from the Harragon family's experience and take necessary precautions to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

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