MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - Fire departments in several Canadian cities are warning about the growing risk posed by lithium-ion batteries after multiple fires in Alberta and Ontario over the past week, including at least three incidents in Calgary within a 24-hour period. Medicine Hat, Alta., resident Fred Dennis knows how devastating one of those fires can be. His home is still standing after a fire last month, but the extensive damage has left it a complete write-off. “There was probably smoke 20 feet in the air. You could see the flames up above the house,” Dennis said. The fire broke out on the back deck while Dennis and his wife were grocery shopping. “The worst part about all of this is ... we lost our dog and cat in a fire,” Dennis said. As Dennis and his wife continue to grieve their loss, he said what they learned about the cause of the fire came as a shock. “The firemen told us that they figured it was a lithium-ion battery,” he said. Dennis said the battery was inside a solar light that was purchased online. Lithium-ion batteries have become a common power source for everyday rechargeable devices. They can be found in everything from smartphones, laptops and tablets to e-bikes, e-scooters, portable chargers and some solar lights. Dennis’s experience comes as fire departments in several Canadian cities report growing concerns about lithium-ion battery fires. 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 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.” Toronto and surrounding communities are also reporting an increase. The latest incident involved a fire on the seventh floor of a high-rise in Etobicoke. Last week, Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop described his concern with lithium-ion batteries. “I have stated that the greatest, fastest evolving, growing public fire safety risk in the city is lithium-ion battery fires,” Jessop said. Fire officials say several factors can increase the risk posed by lithium-ion batteries, including products that do not meet Canadian safety standards, damaged or incompatible charging equipment, improper disposal and unsafe charging practices. Kwan recommends unplugging devices once they are sufficiently charged rather than leaving them connected to a charger unnecessarily. “You never want to charge something beyond 100 per cent,” he said. “If it’s been charged up to the level you want it to be, then unplug it.” He adds that consumers should also use charging equipment intended for their device, avoid using batteries that show signs of damage and follow local requirements for disposing of lithium-ion batteries rather than putting them in household garbage. Last week, Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth said that beyond public awareness, fire officials are also calling for stronger oversight of lithium-ion batteries sold in Canada. “We’re pushing for greater regulation both nationally, and we’re having those conversations locally as well,” he said. Dennis hopes sharing what happened to his family will lead to change. “I hope they get the industry to improve what they’re making so that nobody else has to go through this,” he said.
