Toronto’s fire chief is again highlighting the potential dangers of lithium-ion battery fires, after an explosion in Scarborough was recently caught on video.
On Sunday, Toronto Fire Services responded after a passerby reported a fire on the exterior of a home near the Lawrence Avenue East and Scarborough Golf Club Road area at around 6:40 a.m.
Fire Chief Jim Jessop posted a video online showing the incident, where an e-bike can be seen exploding into a fireball in a driveway outside a home.
After the bike catches fire, multiple explosions follow before black smoke starts rising into the air, and what appear to be pieces of the bike appear to be ejected into the surrounding area. Nobody was seriously injured in the incident.
“Firefighters are facing these far too frequently, and they present unique challenges-flying battery cells, toxic smoke, extreme smoke, as examples,” said Jessop in his post.
Just weeks ago on July 12, Jessop posted about the “serious risks” posed by lithium-ion battery fires after an e-bike fire in a Scarborough high-rise sent three people to hospital.
Uptick in lithium-ion battery fires
The exploding e-bike battery is the latest in a string of lithium-ion fires, which have increased significantly across Toronto in the past few years.
In May, multiple batteries at a North York recycling plant caught fire, while a battery-induced blaze caused “significant” damage to a Cabbagetown apartment in April.
Data from Toronto Fire Services highlights a stark increase in lithium-ion battery fires: In 2024, fire crews responded to 76 fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries, up 38 per cent from the 55 fires in 2023 and a 162 per cent spike from 2022, when 29 incidents were reported, according to a news release by the City of Toronto.
Lithium batteries can be found in everyday products, from electric toothbrushes and phones to appliances and children’s toys, so why are those in e-bikes catching fire more frequently?
Jeff Dahn, a chemistry and physics professor at Dalhousie University, explained that it’s mainly because e-bike batteries aren’t required to have certification for safety.
“People are building e-bikes, competing with each other on cost … and the biggest problem is e-bike batteries don’t have to be safety certified by any organization at all at the moment,” Dahn previously told the Star.
Tips to prevent lithium-ion fires:
Toronto Fire Services took to social media earlier this month to share a video of tips to prevent fires involving lithium-ion batteries. Here is what they suggest:
- Devices should never be charged on soft surfaces
- Devices should never be charged near exits or stairwells
- If the device is damaged, or the user makes modifications, fire hazards increase
- Always use approved batteries and cords.