A robot vacuum cleaner exploded in a home in Brabham, north-east Perth, on Thursday night, leaving Lachie Perrem, 25, with critical burns to 75% of his body. The incident occurred as Perrem was vacuuming his kitchen.
He was transported to Fiona Stanley Hospital and remains in critical condition, requiring multiple surgeries, extensive medical treatment, and months of rehabilitation. Footage from the scene shows significant destruction, with windows blown out, walls blackened, furniture destroyed, charred floorboards, and debris scattered throughout the home, affecting the kitchen and living room areas.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia (DFES) confirmed that four trucks responded to the fire around 5 p.m. on Thursday. The blaze was extinguished by 7:15 p.m., and the area was secured.
DFES officials have classified the cause as accidental, attributing it to a fault in the robotic vacuum cleaner. The device has been sent to the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS) for further examination. Investigators are reportedly looking into whether the fire originated from the lithium-ion battery or electrical components of the vacuum.
This marks the first reported incident involving a robot vacuum cleaner fire, though DFES noted four vacuum cleaner fires have occurred in the past two years.
Perrem's mother, Fiona, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support his recovery and manage ongoing expenses, including car repayments and living costs. She stated that the family aims to alleviate financial burdens so Perrem can focus on healing. The occupants are now without a home and face the challenge of rebuilding their lives. The GoFundMe has raised over $20,000.
Perrem's fiancée, Bri Thompson, described the situation as "completely unimaginable" and "intense and overwhelming."
The family has requested privacy during this time.