Toronto fire chief warns of rise in lithium-ion battery fires
Lithium-ion battery fires in Toronto are rising, prompting urgent safety warnings. See what caused two recent blazes and how officials want risk reduced.
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop is warning residents about a recent increase in fires linked to lithiumion batteries after crews responded to two such incidents within 24 hours.
One fire broke out Wednesday morning in an Etobicoke highrise and involved lithiumion batteries. Fire crews brought the blaze under control and stayed on site to ventilate smoke, and no injuries were reported.
A second fire on Tuesday at an apartment building on Ontario Street also involved lithiumion batteries, including ebike batteries. Officials said that fire sent two adults and two children to hospital. Toronto Fire says it has recorded 51 fires this year involving lithiumion batteries that caused injury or property damage, and 76 batteryrelated incidents overall. Jessop said the city needs clearer battery standards and changes to fire rules to reduce future risk.