BY IAN CROUCH
Hunter residents are again being warned about the dangers of overcharging Lithium ion batteries following a house fire at Merewether overnight.
Five fire trucks were called to a triple-level weatherboard home on Macquarie Street just after 11.00pm on Tuesday to find a fire on the second floor.
Newcastle Fire Command says an e-scooter left charging sparked the blaze.
They say a smoke alarm woke a neighbour who then managed to wake the male resident of the home who jumped out a window to escape the blaze - he was treated at the scene by paramedics for minor smoke inhalation.
It took crews two hours to extinguish and mop up the fire which caused extensive damage to the upper levels of the home.
