Massive Pacific Highway Blaze: Explosive Lithium-ion Battery Fire Shuts Down Traffic for Hours!

At 2:23 a.m. on September 9, 2024, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews responded to a major fire on the Pacific Highway, south of Kempsey, involving a semi-trailer loaded with Lithium-ion batteries.

Numerous Triple Zero (000) calls reported the incident in the northbound lanes, prompting the deployment of eight fire trucks and 32 firefighters from Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and Wauchope. The Rural Fire Service, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, and Transport for NSW also assisted at the scene.

The truck driver, who was uninjured, managed to uncouple the b-double and safely drive the prime mover away from the burning trailers. The vehicle was carrying a mixed load, including several pallets of Lithium-ion batteries.

Firefighters contained the blaze after more than four hours, though the intense heat kept the flames burning until after 11 a.m. Local residents were advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed during the operation.

Specialist HAZMAT teams monitored environmental risks and safely removed the Lithium-ion batteries from the debris, placing them in containment to prevent re-ignition and the release of dangerous gases.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities yet to determine whether the Lithium-ion batteries were the source or if they contributed to the severity of the blaze.