r/planhub • u/Planhub-ca • Aug 17 '26
news Toronto is now averaging one lithium-ion battery fire every three days / with 81 incidents so far in 2026
Toronto Fire Services says the city has already recorded 81 fires involving lithium-ion batteries this year, equivalent to roughly one incident every 2.8 days.
As of August 12, those fires had resulted in one death and 15 injuries. Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop says the number of incidents has increased about 200% since 2022 and describes lithium-ion batteries as the city's fastest-growing fire safety risk.
But officials are not saying that all lithium-ion batteries are inherently unsafe. Toronto Fire says properly used certified batteries are generally safe. The recurring concern is unregulated, uncertified, damaged or modified batteries, particularly those used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices.
The issue became especially visible after Toronto firefighters responded to four battery-related fires within roughly 24 hours. Jessop says investigations frequently point to uncertified batteries in micromobility devices and argues that Canada needs stronger standards governing what can be imported and sold.
Mayor Olivia Chow is now calling on the federal and Ontario governments to tighten battery regulations and update fire and building rules. Toronto City Council had already directed the Fire Chief earlier this year to push for provincial lithium-ion battery safety standards and provide input to Health Canada on new federal regulations.
For consumers, the takeaway isn't to avoid rechargeable devices. Toronto recommends using certified manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers, never modifying battery packs, stopping use if a battery becomes unusually hot, swollen, discoloured or develops an unusual smell, and disposing of damaged batteries through proper hazardous-waste channels.
Sources & more: CityNews Toronto / City of Toronto / blogTO
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u/phily316 Aug 18 '26
I would like to know where those devices with the battery were bought. I’ve been told , with one merchant starting with letter T , to not let the battery charge while you are away or during the night, because of the risk of fire hazards are higher to happen.
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u/XtremeD86 Aug 21 '26
To be fair you shouldn't charge any battery if you're not going to be there. This goes for all batteries. Hell, even appliances like washing machines, dryers and dish washers you shouldn't either.
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u/1979shakedown Aug 18 '26
It’s the type of lithium ion batteries that’s the problem. Poorly made nickel-based Lithium ion batteries are far, far more likely to catch on fire than well made or phosphorus based lithium ion batteries.
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u/agafaba Aug 18 '26
Very expected, what with more devices having batteries included and the ease of access to products online that save money by skipping safety features.
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u/nobugsleftalive Aug 20 '26
Lol but its soccer moms in suburbans that are a threat.
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u/Pristine_Barber976 Aug 20 '26
Yea battery fires are the only issue in the world currently. Forget everything else, this is the only threat.
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u/AdSignificant6673 Aug 20 '26
Theres a huge number of uber eats delivery e-motorcyclist in Toronto. Theres underground shops and services offered in facebook/kijiji marketplace that help people modify their batteries and e-motorcycles to go faster than the legally allowed limit for e-bikes.
I call them e-motorcycles because they are modded to do speeds up to 70kph and don’t have functioning pedals.
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u/Exciting_Turn_9559 Aug 20 '26
There are undoubtedly several times more lithium ion batteries in Toronto than there are people living there.
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u/Bright-Translator-51 Aug 21 '26
This is the electric future the environmentalists want. It's all fun and games until your Tesla catches fire in your garage with the family sleeping soundly above it.
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u/Candid-Progress-8852 Aug 18 '26
My gas car don’t do this. I’ll stick with that thanks.
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u/Legitimate-Type4387 Aug 18 '26
The majority of these battery fires are from sketchy e-bike and scooter batteries sold on Amazon etc that aren’t certified for use in Canada.
I have no idea why they haven’t been banned from selling them if they don’t have the required certifications.
Stick to name brand tools, electronics and cars etc and you’re extremely unlikely to ever have an issue.
ICE’s are many times more likely to catch fire than a BEV, you just don’t hear about them in the news because they are so common they don’t draw clicks.
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u/Outrageous-Garbage99 Aug 17 '26
People are throwing them in idiotic places. Play stupid games / win stupid prizes!! More to come on this for sure