Lithium-ion Batteries Spark Toronto Highrise Fire

0:00A fire broke out in a downtown Toronto high rise on Wellesley Street near Parliament Street around 2.30 pm. Monday and Toronto fire services, pinned it on lithium ion batteries. No one got hurt, but flames hit a 9th 4 balcony hard, sending thick smoke up the side of the building. The blaze wrecked the exterior and gutted the inside of that one unit. Crew shared details later on, X, confirming the battery sparked it all while an investigation rolls on. Fire chief Jim Jessif called it a stark reminder of the dangers these batteries bring, not just to buildings but to the firefighters rushing in. He stressed how they amp up the hazards on every call. These batteries power everything from e-bikes and e-scooters to laptops and phones, and they've exploded in fire risks of 162 percent in Toronto from 2022 to 2024. Last year, Jessif flagged e-bikes batteries as the city's fastest growing threat, pushing for tighter rules.

1:00A big subway battery fire back in December 2023 even got the TTC to ban e-scooters and e-bikes in winter. With numbers climbing like this, expect more heat on regs to keep these fires from spreading. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news.