Geraldton firefighters and police attend house fire on Gertrude Street caused by lithium battery charger

A home in Geraldton was destroyed by fire caused by a lithium iron battery charger on Thursday morning, which took firefighters more than an hour to extinguish and caused about $150,000 damage. Concerned neighbours watched the smoke billow out as four fire crews attended the property on Gertrude Street about 9.50am. A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson confirmed the fire started in the living room, spreading to the roof space and causing significant smoke damage throughout. The fire was controlled just after 10.20am and extinguished by 10.50am, one hour after the call was made. No one was home at the time of the blaze. Geraldton police attended to assist with traffic management while the blaze was contained. Emergency services have determined the cause of the blaze to be accidental and due to an electrical fault in a lithium iron battery charger in the lounge room. The estimated damage was estimated at $150,000. Residents took to Facebook to raise their concerns. Jennifer Lenton questioned in a post to social media what “all the black smoke” was near Geraldton Regional Hospital. Tanya Logan was watching from her front veranda and in the comments said “it’s coming from Gertrude St”. Aaron Sweetman said “seen from the overpass, looks like a house fire or something on Durlacher St, top end.” Courtney Needham said she “heard heaps of sirens”, while Joanne Wilson and Mel Zlatic both hoped no one was injured.