Lithium Battery Being Blamed For House Fire At Teralba

 BY IAN CROUCH

A rechargeable battery in a remote control toy car is being blamed for a fire which severely damaged a home at Teralba overnight.

Eight fire trucks and 32 firefighters were called to a 2 storey home on Fishermans Drive just after 6.00pm on Tuesday to find a fire in the garage.

It's believed the toy car had not been used for some time and was being recharged in the garage when the fire broke out.

Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry says the occupants managed to escape the home unharmed.

"Fortunately, four occupants had self evacuated. They were all okay. Fire crews were able to contain the fire to the garage. Fortunately it had vented out a side window, letting the hot gases escape and stopping it from going through the main house," he said.

Superintendent Dewberry said the fire serves as a timely reminder not to charge batteries which have been in storage for some time outside away from the home.

Two Men Flee After Crash At Teralba

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two men are on the run after a single vehicle crash at Teralba overnight.

Emergency services were called to Railway Street just before 7.00pm on Monday to reports a Volkswagen Golf had collided heavily with a parked vehicle and a tree before crashing into a fence just metres away from a house.

Witnesses have told police they saw two men flee from the car, one appeared to be injured.

Police have canvassed local hospitals and hope to speak to the registered owner of the car today (Tuesday 12 November, 2024) as part of their investigation.

 

The front and rear of the Volkswagen Golf was badly damaged in a crash at Teralba. Picture Teralba Fire & Rescue

Fatal House Fire At Teralba Linked To Lithium-Ion Battery

 BY IAN CROUCH

A devastating house fire at Teralba which claimed the lives of two women last week was caused by a Lithium-ion battery.

Fire & Rescue Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell says fire investigators believe a battery was compromised and immediately went into 'Thermal Runaway', where the cell overheats and gives off toxic gases before exploding in flames.

Although they are yet to be formally identified, 59-year-old Therese Harris and 52-year-old Patricia Kerr perished in the blaze.

It's the first deaths caused by a lithium-ion battery fire in NSW.

Two other people managed to escape the inferno at the Railway Street townhouse last Thursday morning.

Fire authorities are again warning about the dangers of leaving batteries on charge while sleeping.  

The townhouse sustained extensive damage in the fire Picture: Fire &Rescue NSW

UPDATE! Two People Unaccounted For As Crews Battle House Fire At Teralba

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Fire Rescue Investigation Unit is waiting for the arrival of a dog unit to assist in the investigation of a townhouse fire at Teralba early Thursday.

Around 60 firefighters took close to close to 2 hours to extinguish a ferocious fire in one of three 2 storey townhouses on Railway Street, which broke out just after 4.00am.

Two crews are still at the scene attending to hot spots.

There are concerns for two people who have not been accounted for.

Internal structural collapse and spot fires has prevented crews from entering the building.   
 

EARLIER:

Two people are unaccounted for as crews battle a fierce house fire at Teralba.

Newcastle Fire Command say 60 firefighters from surrouding stations including a ladder platform from Newcastle, were called to Railway Street just after 4.00am on Thursday to find a timber townhouse engulfed in flames.

It's understood two people are unaccounted for.

Crews are desperately trying to suppress the flames and have called for additional fire crews to assist in the firefighting effort. 

Man impaled by steel rod in accident at Teralba workplace

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man is in hospital after his arm was impaled by a steel rod in a workplace accident at Teralba on Monday morning.

An ambulance crew was called to the Park Street premises around 10:15am.

Paramedics administered pain relief to the man, believed to be in his 20s, working with a Fire and Rescue team to trim the steel rod and safely move him.

He was taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition. 

Woman To Face Court Accused Of Spitting On Police Officer

BY IAN CROUCH

A woman is due to face court in August accused of deliberately spitting on a police officer at Teralba.

The officer stopped a Subaru Forester on Anzac Parade on Tuesday morning for a random breath test.

It's alleged the male driver initially refused to comply and his passenger, a 20-year-old woman, got out of the car and verbally abused the officer before hitting him in the chest and spitting on him.

The officer called for back-up, with the driver arrested after returning a positive test for cannabis.

The woman has since been issued with a court attendance notice.

She's expected to face Toronto Local Court on August 4  charged with two counts of assault officer in execution of his duty, and one count each of resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, behave in an offensive manner in/near public place/school, and intimidate officer in execution of duty.

Police say a one-year-old child was also in the car at the time and a child-at-risk notification has been lodged with the Department of Family and Community Services.

Teralba Rail Bridge Crash Driver Allegedly Caught Drink Driving Twice In One Day

BY IAN CROUCH

Police say a man who crashed his car into a rail overbridge at Teralba had earlier been picked up for drink driving.

The 36-year-old allegedly returned a mid-range blood alcohol reading and resisted arrest when he was pulled over at about 2.00pm on Monday - his licence was suspended on the spot.

He then crashed his car through the guard rail on the rail overbridge on William Steet about 3 hours later, with the vehicle left dangling precariously over the edge.

The driver fled and police caught up with him at his Teralba home a short time later.

He's been granted conditional bail to face Toronto Local Court on October 1 charged with driving under the influence, negligent driving, driving while suspended and resisting arrest.