Concerns rise over battery safety after fire at Halifax e-bike store

A fire at an e-bike store in Halifax is under investigation.

They are quick and convenient part of the daily commute, but a fire at a Halifax e-bike store is raising new concerns about the risks that come with battery-powered travel.

Crews were called to BMG E-Bikes just before 9 a.m. Tuesday after multiple residents in the same building reported smelling smoke.

“Around 8:50 residents phoned in from the same building because they can smell smoke,” said assistant chief Philip Thorburn with Halifax Fire.

By the time firefighters arrived, the store was already filled with smoke. Crews were able to evacuate the building and extinguish the fire.

Capt. Richard Sullivan, executive officer with Halifax Professional Fire Fighters, said the fire took roughly 30 minutes to extinguish – an unusually long time for a fire of that scale.

“The resources required to fight a battery fire in a vehicle are greater than that of a regular combustion engine,” said Sullivan. “Generally, we are going to need multiple tankers.”

The reason, Sullivan explains, is lithium-ion batteries, the kind that power e-bikes, e-scooters and other personal mobility devices.

Once a battery ignites, it can go into what’s known as thermal runaway, a self-sustaining reaction is difficult to extinguish and can reignite even after the fire appears to be out.

“They require copious amounts of water and a lot of time,” he said. “It’s more water than we have onboard our fire truck.”

Lithium-ion batteries are used in phones, tablets, laptops, power tools, and nearly all electric vehicles – and the larger the device, the larger the battery. That means if something goes wrong, the consequences can be more severe.

Halifax Fire said the cause of Tuesday’s fire is still under investigation. However, Thorburn noted that improper charging is a recurring concern.

“Some of this is attributed to the improper use of a non-OEM chargers,” he said. “The charger gets damaged and somebody just buys another charger online.”

Firefighters say battery-related fires are on the rise in Canada, particularly as more people turn to electric vehicles and devices to get around.

With high-density housing becoming more common, Halifax Fire believes the city needs to move quickly to address the growing risks.

“The city has to take a look at our bylaws and what we allow folks to bring into their homes, especially, in multi-unit residential units,” said Sullivan.

As battery-powered mobility becomes more embedded in daily life, Halifax firefighters say conversations around battery safety need to be part of public planning.

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