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One man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a lithium-ion battery caught fire and exploded in a North York community housing building on Oct. 21.
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop told media on Oct. 22 that the blaze erupted late the previous afternoon at a high-rise apartment building at 2999 Jane Street, just south of Finch Avenue West.
Jessop said a lithium-ion battery caught fire and exploded in the apartment suite, adding that “numerous” batteries and e-bikes were stored at the scene.
Previous Lithium-Ion Battery Fires
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used to power smartphones, laptops, e-bikes, and electric vehicles, were also blamed for a fire in May at the city’s Ashwarren Road recycling plant, Jessop said at the time.
“The frequency and intensity of LIB [lithium-ion battery] fires continue to increase across our city, along with the risk to the public and firefighters,” Jessop said in a social media post.
Jessop said a destructive chain reaction called thermal runaway can ignite the batteries. This phenomenon occurs when the battery generates heat faster than it can dissipate, causing a temperature surge that ignites the flammable electrolyte inside.
Jessop and Toronto Fire Services posted photos of the three-alarm blaze on May 21. Neither post provided details on the circumstances of the fire, but the department confirmed no one was injured.
Jessop had issued a similar warning three months earlier after crews responded to three lithium-ion battery fires within 24 hours.
“These fires burn hot, fast, and can spread rapidly,” he said in a Feb. 23 post. “Be aware of the potential risks, take them seriously, follow safety guidelines, and stay safe.”
Health Canada describes the batteries as a risk to first responders, particularly firefighters.
“They face specific hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries, which can become an unforeseen and dangerous secondary source of ignition in the event of an unrelated house fire, and heightened dangers when responding to incidents involving lithium-ion battery fires,” the health agency says on its website.
“The intense heat and toxic fumes released during such fires pose significant threats to the safety of fire fighters, underscoring the broader public safety concerns linked to these batteries.”
Improper charging and physical mistreatment are the main contributors to lithium-ion batteries igniting rapidly, according to a Toronto Fire Services tip sheet.
Tips to Prevent Battery Fires
The fire department has provided some tips to safeguard homes and businesses from lithium-ion battery fires:
Only use batteries and charging cords authorized by the manufacturer for the device
Avoid charging a device beneath your pillow, on your bed, or on your couch
Do not overcharge devices and always unplug them when they reach a full charge of 100 percent
Follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer for the proper charging and storage of devices
Do not place batteries in direct sunlight or inside hot vehicles
Keep lithium-ion batteries stored away from items that could ignite
Avoid crushing, bending or dropping a device or charger
Immediately stop using the battery if you detect any odour, device deformity, change in colour, excessive heat, leakage, or unusual sounds emanating from it.
Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.
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