While on holiday in Bali, Paul got the call that his home had burnt to the ground

When Paul set off for a holiday in Bali, he expected relaxation.

Instead, a panicked phone call from back home plunged him into a battle against severe health complications, massive financial loss, and an ongoing fight with his insurer.

The cause of the catastrophe? Humble power drill batteries sitting on his patio – unplugged.

While Paul was overseas, it’s thought two lithium-ion batteries belonging to his power drill spontaneously combusted, sparking an explosive blaze that quickly consumed his patio and sent superheated, toxic air tearing through his Perth home.

Paul’s mother-in-law was inside at the time.

“She was screaming for help,” Paul recalled, visibly emotional.

“It’s only because the neighbour went across, picked her up, and carried her out, that she survived.”

While his mother-in-law was saved, the house wasn’t so lucky. The heat was so intense it stripped the chrome plating off kitchen appliances, blowing thick soot through every room via the air conditioning unit.

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The supposed combustion of the lithium batteries released a cocktail of volatile chemicals.

Unaware of the severe invisible contamination, Paul and his family spent days at the property without protective gear.

A former science teacher, Paul watched in horror as pre-existing skin conditions rapidly deteriorated, resulting in 13 skin cancers flare up – two of which required urgent surgical removal.

Paul claims his insurer, Allianz, failed to conduct immediate toxicity testing on the home following the blaze.

While the fire occurred in December 2024, comprehensive environmental testing wasn’t carried out until May 2025 – allowing months for tradies, insurance reps, and family members to walk through a contaminated environment.

With temporary housing funds depleted, his family faces the terrifying reality of moving back into a home they still don’t feel safe in.

To prevent future disasters, Paul now stores his remaining lithium-ion batteries strictly inside heavy-duty metal ammunition boxes.