Ottawa firefighters have responded to 54 fires related to lithium-ion batteries since 2024, and 23 of those fires caused “significant” structural damage to homes.
Ottawa Fire Services prepared a report for the city’s emergency and protective services committee following an inquiry from Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill, including data for the past two years and the factors that could make homes more vulnerable to lithium-ion battery-related fires.
There have been 10 confirmed fires so far this year related to lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from phones and tools to e-bikes and e-scooters.
A fatal fire on the 19th floor of a residential highrise at 395 Somerset St. W. on March 14 was believed to have been sparked by a battery-powered e-scooter. Three people died in the fire.
Earlier this year, a dog chewing on a heated glove battery sparked a house fire in Orléans, while a two-alarm blaze in Richmond was traced to a power tool battery.
At a news conference earlier this year, OFS fire prevention officer Leanne Labbee said it was estimated that the average household had about 100 batteries in use at any given time — roughly three-quarters of them being lithium-ion.
According to the most recent report, firefighters were able to contain 31 fires to the areas where the fires originated with reduced structural damage. Of those 31 fires, one was related to an electric vehicle and five more were traced to e-bikes or e-bike batteries.
All fires related to lithium-ion batteries are reported to Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal, which collects provincewide data that monitors trends, informs fire safety guidance and supports public education initiatives, according to the report.
Data collected over the past two full years showed that an average of 1.5 per cent of fires in Ottawa were suspected of being caused by lithium-ion batteries. That rate was 1.3 per cent in 2024 and it climbed to 1.6 per cent in 2025.
It is too early to estimate the 2026 average, according to the report.
The report also lists a number of factors that can make homes or businesses more vulnerable to lithium-ion related fires, including unsafe charging practices like leaving devices plugged in after they are already fully charged or charging devices while they’re on top of soft surfaces like beds and couches.
Batteries left charging in extremely cold environments can cause “thermal runaway,” a rapid, uncontrollable buildup of heat that can lead to fire or explosion within seconds.
Firefighters quickly contained a fire in an Orléans home and safely rescued a dog after it appeared to spark a fire by biting into a battery-powered heated glove.
“New battery designs, improved battery management systems, and advancements in materials are helping reduce the risk of failures such as thermal runaway, which is the primary mechanism responsible for lithium-ion battery fires,” the report stated.
Low-quality or modified batteries continue to pose a risk as cheap aftermarket batteries and chargers, modified batteries or devices that are altered for higher speed or longer battery life can bypass built-in safety controls, significantly increasing the risk of fire.
Charging or storing batteries near bedding, furniture, clothing, cluttered storage areas, exit routes, stairwells or garages containing fuel or other flammable materials also increases the fire risk.
Using damaged, swollen or worn batteries can also increase the risk of fire.
The most frequent issues are found in low-quality or modified batteries and with damaged or aging batteries, according to OFS.
The fire service has purchased equipment specific to suppressing lithium-ion battery fires and is “actively monitoring risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.”
Prevention and education programs promote safe charging practices, responsible recycling and OFS shares real-life examples of fire incidents “to educate, not alarm, the public,” the report stated.
Ottawa has a lower volume of incidents than other major urban centres across Canada and the United Statest, “which could be attributed to our overall differing landscape,” the report added.
“For example, cities such as Toronto have a higher concentration of high-rise buildings, increasing the likelihood that residents bring e-scooters, ebikes, and other devices indoors for charging and storage, which contributes to higher numbers of lithium-ion battery fires.”
OFS said it would continue to monitor trends, review emerging suppression methods and would expand public education efforts to reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.
The report is to be presented to a city committee on May 28.
With files from Bruce Deachman
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