Waimea Weekly
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Wednesday 1 April 2015
Zipping into town
Page 8
MArine & coMposite pAge 16 - 17
Celebrating half century
Page 27
Batteries cause house fire
The fire service is warning homeowners to take extra precautions with lithiumion batteries after an investigation into a fire that destroyed a Stoke house last week showed it was started by “thermal runaway” in the batteries. Lesley and Leslie Morris lost their Arapiki Rd home last Friday after a fire that started in the garage razed the three-storey build-
ing. Nelson fire service specialist fire investigator Craig Piner confirmed on Tuesday that the fire appeared to be started by the failure of lithium-ion batteries. “I haven’t finished the investigation yet but, at this stage, it’s looking like charging batteries was the issue,” Craig says. “There’s been a few house fires caused by these batteries, so it’s not that uncommon.
Simon Bloomberg
Senior reporter Reporter
simon@waimeaweekly.co.nz “The lithium batteries can fail and you get a thing called thermal runaway where they get very hot and produce an intense heat and flames. It looks like that’s what hap-
pened last week.” Craig says lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular but warned that they must be handled carefully because of their potential fire risk. He also advised to purchase good quality lithium-ion batteries to minimise the risk
SEE PAGE 2
SLUM CITY: Garin College student Grace Roche in her cardboard accommodation for the school’s fundraising event, Slum City. Slum City saw the students sleep outside in cardboard boxes and fast for 20 hours to raise money for Caritas, a Catholic charity that will be supporting those living in poverty in the Philippines. The students sourced their own cardboard and spent the afternoon creating their shelters for the night, some more elaborate than others. Year 13 students Ruby Dunne and Georgia Chapple say they were excited to spend the night in their gingerbread house-themed cardboard shelter, and sad that it would be their last time taking part in the event. Photo: Jessie Johnston.
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