TORONTO – Lithium batteries are putting a dangerous charge into fires across the country. Used to power electric bikes, e-scooters and a long list of products, the popular batteries are being blamed for three separate fires over the last week alone in Toronto. So far this year, there have been roughly 80 fires in the country’s largest city linked to lithium-ion batteries. “That’s an increase of 35 per cent, that also includes 14 injuries and two fatalities involved with those incidents,” said Toronto Fire Platoon Chief Peter Rappos last week following yet another blaze. The unsafe handling, as well as cheap, unregulated batteries pouring into Canada, are sparking concern, according to Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop. “You can go on eBay or any type of shopping online system right now and order these batteries and we have no idea who they’re tested by. We have no idea what standard they meet,” said Jessop. At a fire this week inside a downtown Toronto apartment building, Jessop said 10 additional e-bikes and micromobility devices were found stored in a single apartment unit. Fire departments in several Canadian cities are also warning about the growing risk posed by lithium-ion batteries after multiple fires in Alberta and Ontario, including at least three incidents in Calgary within a 24-hour period just last week. Calgary has already recorded more lithium-ion battery fires this year than last. Two of the recent incidents involved e-scooters whose batteries overheated while being charged. “If that battery becomes compromised, it goes into what’s called a thermal runaway,” said Alex Kwan, a public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department. “And that’s where very, very quickly that fire will accelerate and grow.” Transport Canada regulates the labelling, transport and handling of lithium batteries, though Health Canada recently completed a public consultation seeking comments on a proposed regulatory initiative around lithium-ion batteries. In an email to CTV News, a Health Canada spokesperson wrote that while full analysis of the feedback they received is still ongoing, “there was broad support for the introduction of mandatory safety requirements.” The public health agency is now determining “next steps to address the safety of lithium-ion batteries sold in Canada, including a possible regulatory proposal.” In Ontario, the office of the Fire Marshal oversees fire safety codes. CTV News asked the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office if it was taking steps to work with municipalities to change the fire code around certain lithium-powered devices, but they were unable to respond to our questions before our deadline. Toronto’s fire chief believes that “we need the federal government to come to the table to work with us and we need the Fire Marshall at the table to look at potential amendments to the fire code.” Following a fire onboard a Toronto subway train in December 2023 sparked by an e-bike’s lithium battery, the TTC banned e-bikes from its stations, buses, streetcars and subways through each winter, when it’s believed the cold weather makes the batteries even more volatile. Toronto’s fire chief says a patchwork of prohibitions and bylaws won’t keep Canadians safe. “This is the greatest, evolving fire safety risk in Canada’s largest city,” warns Jessop. With files from CTV News’ Kathy Le
