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Byron Bay E‑Bike Shop Fire Contained After Midday Blasts

Authorities are probing whether lithium batteries worsened the fire.

Overview

  • A blaze inside the Freedom Machine e‑bike store in Byron Bay’s CBD was contained to the shop by Fire and Rescue NSW.
  • Firefighters and witnesses reported exploding lithium‑ion batteries inside, which produced thick black smoke and made the job harder.
  • Six shop staff and the residents in the units above evacuated safely with no injuries reported.
  • Police said they are not treating the fire as suspicious, and investigators are now working to determine the cause.
  • About six fire trucks responded after multiple calls to Triple Zero, Australia’s 000 emergency line, underscoring the risks battery fires pose in buildings that mix shops with homes.