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Summarised by Centrist
A deliberately set fire in Auckland’s Greenlane has reignited concerns over the dangers of electric vehicle fires. The blaze, which destroyed an electric car and a carport, burned intensely for over an hour and even melted the back of a nearby car.
Firefighters had to work quickly to prevent the flames from spreading further.
Seven incendiary devices were reportedly planted under multiple vehicles in the shared driveway on Kawau Rd. “This could have ended in tragedy as some of the cars were parked very close to a home,” a witness said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand confirmed that the fire was ruled suspicious and referred the case to police. Nearby residents described hearing loud sounds, similar to fireworks and noticed a heightened police presence in the following days.
Police are searching for the suspect and have urged anyone with information to contact them via 105, quoting file number 250217/0165, or through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.
Editor’s note: The fire’s intensity highlights a growing concern—once ignited, electric vehicle fires are far harder to control than conventional car fires, requiring large amounts of water and posing explosion risks due to lithium-ion batteries. Read more here.
