Caution for Lithium batteries

Jennie from Kohimarama

Hi Neighbours. I'm wanting to post a message on the dangers of having lithium batteries, especially in cars, bikes, scooters. There have been many fires throughout NZ that have a NO-warning combustion fire that is extremely intense, fast and wild.
My neighbour had their house burnt down in the early hours 2 years ago because of a E-bike in the garage. There was also an expensive car, bbq, and gas tank in the garage. The saving grace was there was a fire alarm in the garage, the concrete base was lined with 1.5 hour fire gib board and a fire proof internal door. This allowed the family to escape. The garage door was blasted out and twisted, the car was a blacken metal frame by the ferocity of the fire.
Co-incidentally the FENZ had education talks at St Thomas School a couple of weeks before.
How safe is the second hand E-V, hybrid car, bike, scooter that you have got, or are giving for Xmas? Have these items had their batteries checked for damage, have they been in a crash?
Are the battery cells in good condition?
There has been very little media news, details, education to these fires, so this allows the public into thinking there is not a huge problem.
How much information in the news is given to cars that just combust by itself?
The Fire Service can recognise a lithium battery fire and put them out with specialised products. I I don't know if normal fire hydrants can put these fires out.