Portable power station on a 4WD tailgate at a bush campsite at dusk

Portable Power Station Fire Safety: A Guide for Camping, 4WD and Blackout Backup

Portable power stations have become standard kit for Australian camping trips, 4WD touring and blackout backup at home. They are convenient, quiet and increasingly powerful, with the bigger units storing as much energy as a small home battery. That energy is the point, and it is also the risk. A power station is a large lithium battery pack with an inverter and charging electronics in one box, and when something goes wrong inside it, the result can be a fierce, hard to control fire.

This guide looks at why power stations deserve more respect than a phone power bank, what the recent recalls tell us, and the practical steps that keep a unit safe in the car, at camp and in the garage.

Why a power station is different from a power bank

Most of us treat a power station like an oversized power bank. In practice it sits much closer to a small battery energy storage system. A large unit can hold several kilowatt-hours of energy, runs a fridge, lights or power tools for hours, and is often charged from three sources: mains power, a car's 12V outlet and solar panels. Every one of those charge paths, plus the internal inverter and battery management system, is a place where heat can build up.

Australian regulators are clear about the underlying hazard. The ACCC describes lithium-ion batteries as able to be "highly flammable" and notes that a lithium-ion battery fire "can be very difficult to put out and it may reignite" (Product Safety Australia, n.d.). Energy Safe Victoria (2026) adds that these fires can cause property damage, serious injuries and deaths, and may take days to fully extinguish. Scale that up to a battery the size of a carry-on suitcase and the consequences of a failure are significant.

It is also worth knowing that there is no mandatory Australian safety standard for lithium-ion batteries or products that contain them (Product Safety Australia, n.d.). Quality varies widely, and buyers carry more of the responsibility than they might expect.

What recent recalls tell us

Overseas recall data gives a useful picture of how power stations fail, because the same brands and designs are widely sold in Australia. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled several popular models in the past two years:

  • In August 2024, around 5,740 HALO 1000 portable power stations were recalled because their lithium-ion batteries could overheat. The recall notice reports a death from smoke inhalation in a house fire involving one of the units (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC], 2024).
  • In October 2025, around 25,030 EcoFlow Delta Max 2000 units were recalled because they "may overheat and ignite". The company had received six reports of units catching fire, with property damage totalling more than US$850,000. The fix was a firmware update (CPSC, 2025).
  • In August 2026, around 46,200 Goal Zero YETI 3000X units were recalled because the circuit board could overheat, again remedied by a free firmware update (CPSC, 2026).

Two lessons stand out. First, failures are not limited to cheap, unbranded products: well-known brands can have faults too. Second, some fixes rely on owners updating firmware, which many people never do. If you own a power station, registering it with the manufacturer and checking for updates is a simple, worthwhile habit.

Closer to home, the trend in lithium-ion incidents is heading the wrong way. The ACCC reports that product safety reports about lithium-ion batteries rose by almost 600% between 2020 and 2025 (Product Safety Australia, n.d.), and the NSW Government describes lithium-ion batteries as a leading fire hazard in homes, workplaces and waste facilities (NSW Government, 2025).

The biggest risk settings for campers and tourers

Hot vehicles

Australian summer heat is a genuine problem. Both the ACCC and Energy Safe Victoria specifically warn against leaving lithium-ion batteries or products in hot places such as parked vehicles (Energy Safe Victoria, 2026; Product Safety Australia, n.d.). A power station left in a closed car, on a dark ute tray or in a canopy in full sun can reach temperatures well beyond what the manufacturer allows. Heat does not just shorten battery life; it raises the chance of a failure.

Charging while driving

Charging from the car's 12V system while touring is convenient but often unattended, and the unit may be wedged between bags, swags and bedding. If it overheats in a packed cargo area, there is fuel for a fire and little room to deal with it.

Inside tents, swags and caravans

Many people run a power station inside a tent or annex overnight. The ACCC advises against charging on flammable materials such as beds, sofas or carpet, and recommends a non-flammable surface such as concrete, ceramic or steel (Product Safety Australia, n.d.). Tent floors, sleeping mats and canvas are exactly the materials you do not want next to a hot battery, and a tent can be hard to escape quickly at night.

Blackout backup at home

At home, power stations tend to live in a garage, laundry or hallway cupboard and are left plugged in for months. Product Safety Australia (n.d.) recommends storing batteries away from exits, particularly in apartment buildings, so that a fire does not block your way out.

A practical safety checklist

These steps draw on current Australian regulator advice and apply to any size of unit.

  1. Buy from a reputable Australian supplier. Fire and Rescue NSW (2025) urges buyers to avoid cheap online imports that may not meet Australian electrical standards, and Energy Safe Victoria (2026) advises against directly importing lithium-ion products from overseas.
  2. Register the unit and check for recalls and firmware updates. Check the Product Safety Australia recalls site from time to time and install manufacturer updates.
  3. Use the right charger and cables. Never mix and match chargers (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [ACCC], 2023; Fire and Rescue NSW, 2025). Use the supplied mains charger and cables rated for the solar or car input.
  4. Charge where you can see it. Charge on a hard, non-flammable surface, away from bedding and exits, and do not leave units charging unattended for long periods or while you sleep (Energy Safe Victoria, 2026; Fire and Rescue NSW, 2025).
  5. Keep it cool and shaded. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, including while charging (ACCC, 2023). At camp, keep it in the shade with its vents clear.
  6. Secure it in the vehicle. Strap it down so it cannot be crushed or dropped, and keep it away from bedding and fuel. Physical damage such as denting or crushing is a reason to stop using a product (Product Safety Australia, n.d.).
  7. Watch for warning signs. Stop using any unit that is swelling, leaking, venting gas, overheating or giving off an odour (ACCC, 2023; Energy Safe Victoria, 2026).
  8. Dispose of it properly. Never put a power station or its battery in household rubbish. Use a battery recycling facility, B-cycle drop-off point or council collection (Product Safety Australia, n.d.).

Having a plan if something goes wrong

Prevention matters most, but a plan matters too, especially in remote areas where fire services may be a long way off. Know where your exits are, keep the power station somewhere you can move away from quickly, and have a phone within reach. At camp, set the unit up away from tents, vehicles, gas bottles and dry grass, so that a failure does not spread.

Containment is a sensible part of that plan. A fire-rated containment bag gives smaller batteries and accessories a safer place to sit during storage and transport, and a purpose-made lithium-ion fire blanket can help isolate a burning item and limit spread when used early and safely by someone trained to do so. For workplaces, fleets and tour operators carrying larger units, a lithium-ion rated extinguisher and an awareness course build the skills and confidence to respond appropriately. Product Safety Australia (n.d.) notes that extinguishers for lithium-ion battery fires should be used by trained people, which is why training should come with the equipment.

Equipment that suits camping, touring and home backup

If you tour with a power station or rely on one at home, these products from our range are a practical fit:

Our team is happy to help you choose the right combination for a camper trailer, 4WD, fleet vehicle or home setup.

A final safety note

If a power station or any lithium-ion battery starts smoking, hissing, popping or burning, your safety comes first. Get everyone out and away from the smoke, and call Triple Zero (000) immediately (ACCC, 2023; Product Safety Australia, n.d.). Equipment is there to support a safe escape, never to replace one. Make sure every level of your home has a working smoke alarm (Fire and Rescue NSW, 2025).

References

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