E-scooter charger sparked fire that destroyed home

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An e-scooter left on charge overnight is believed to be the source of a fire that destroyed a home south-west of Brisbane on Boxing Day morning.

Occupants of the house woke to a sparking charger and were unable to put out the flames.

The Queensland Fire Department received multiple calls about a house fire on Peachface Crescent in Springfield just after 5.30am Friday.

The fire was sparked by a charging e-scooter battery.

Five crews arrived to find the house engulfed in flames, a QFD spokesperson said.

Two people in suffered minor smoke inhalation and were taken to Ipswich Hospital in a stable condition and a patient with minor burns to their arm was assessed at the scene.

Five other adults were taken to hospital without injuries and an uninjured teen was taken to the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Firefighters received multiple calls about the blaze.

The fire was under control by 6am. QFD investigators worked with police, but the fire has been deemed unsuspicious.

Two cats and two dachshunds are unaccounted for, though it is not believed they perished in the fire. One other dog from the house has been located.

Fires started by lithium-ion batteries have become an increasingly regular issue in Queensland, with the department attending 240 in the first 11 months of 2025.

Firefighters urged the owners of battery-powered devices to keep their batteries in a cool, dry place, inspect them for swelling or other damage and not charge them overnight at any cost.

“A single mistake, like using a damaged battery or leaving a charger plugged in, can have devastating consequences,” QFD Commissioner Steve Smith said.

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