When the alarm activated at 7am, a man, aged in his 30s, woke to find his bike on fire while it was charging in his bedroom at the Eve Street address.
It appears the bike’s Lithium battery pack overheated, caught fire and burst open, spreading flames to nearby clothing and a bed.
The man, his brother and their father managed to escape the weatherboard home.
They were attempting to extinguish the fire when a Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew arrived.
Two firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, removed the e-bike and burning batteries from the home and doused the flames.
The man, woken by the smoke alarm, and his elderly father have been taken to hospital for assessment for smoke inhalation.
FRNSW Station Officer Shawn Richardson, from Guildford Fire Station, said the working smoke alarm had saved the day.
“These residents are very lucky,” Station Officer Richardson said.
“Although the smoke was light in this case, it was very toxic.
“Fortunately, one of the men was woken by the alarm and they all got out safely.
“We urge everyone to ensure they have working smoke alarms installed in their homes and to test them regularly.”
He said if people were uncertain about their alarms, they could book a home safety visit and firies would inspect their property and install a smoke alarm, free of charge, if necessary.
“In regards to Lithium batteries, never charge them while you’re sleeping or when you’re not at home; only purchase reputable brands; don’t mix and match components and try to charge devices outdoors if possible,” he said.
Senior firefighters have expressed concern over a sharp rise in residential fires this winter, urging the public to end the complacency over household smoke alarms.
