Lithium-ion batteries for 3 remote control cars caused $1M in damage to Lakeshore, Ont., homes
Local fire department is sounding the alarm of their potential hazard
Many of the devices we use every day are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Whether it's battery operated vacuums and cell phones — to hoverboards, scooters, e-bikes and electric scooters. Even smoke alarms carry them now.
Most of the time, they work for us, and seem perfectly safe. However, they can pose a fire hazard, as seen in some recent incidents in Lakeshore, Ont.
On three separate occasions — all using aftermarket batteries for remote controlled cars — they malfunctioned while charging, according to the municipality's fire department, causing a total of nearly $1-million.
"What seems to have happened was the battery overheated because it was left on for too long and ended up off-gasing, exploding in the house, causing a small explosion," said Lakeshore's assistant deputy fire chief Andre Marentette.
WATCH | Fire department warns against buying off-brand rechargeable lithium batteries:
And that has caused the department to issue a public warning.
"We hadn't dealt with anything that we were able to pinpoint back to those batteries up until now and having three incidents back to back, knowing what the cause was, was just kind of, 'OK, hold on.' There's an issue here we need to address and we need to bring awareness to the community to provide a better safe environment for everybody."
And the lithium-ion-related fires have been a growing concern across other parts of the province. In Toronto, for instance, in 2022 its fire department reported 29 blazes in the city originating from the batteries — then growing to 55 the following year. That's an increase of almost 90 per cent.
WATCH | What can you do to prevent a lithium-ion battery fire in your home?
According to Marentette, part of the problem is that many of the batteries being used do not meet Canadian standards — they're coming in from overseas and are cheap to buy.
"People aren't taking the time to check the safety standards on them. And they're just buying them because they're saving a dollar or two. Those are the dangers."
Here are some lithium-ion battery safety tips from the Lakeshore Fire Department:
-
Purchase batteries directly from the product manufacturer. "Off-brand" batteries may not be compatible with devices or chargers.
-
Never leave batteries charging unattended and use chargers approved by the manufacturer.
-
Store batteries in fireproof lithium-ion battery bags to reduce fire risk while charging.
-
Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage such as odour, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change of colour.
-
Damaged batteries should be safely discarded. For resources on battery disposal, you can connect through the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority.
WATCH | Why trashing lithium ion batteries can be a fire hazard:
