E-bike lithium battery or charger causes North End house fire
Occupants escaped before firefighters arrived, city says
A house fire in Winnipeg's North End that forced people to flee from the home Thursday night has officials warning the public of possible hazards associated with plug-in lithium ion batteries and chargers — including for e-bikes.
Fire crews arrived at a home on Magnus Avenue, between Salter and Andrews streets, just after 10 p.m. to find smoke billowing from a 1½-storey home.
Everyone inside escaped safely prior to their arrival, a news release from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said Friday.
Initial findings suggest the fire was accidentally caused by a lithium-ion battery or charger for an e-bike that failed, a WFPS spokesperson said.
The city is reminding the public of the potential fire risks associated with plugging in lithium ion batteries.
The city recommends:
- Following manufacturer instructions.
- Only using cables and device batteries that come with items at point of purchase.
- Unplugging items when they're done charging.
- Charging items on hard surfaces, like tables and countertops.
- Avoiding charging on beds, couches, under pillows or on soft surfaces.
Unplug if you ever notice an item giving off too much heat, making strange noises, leaking, changing colour or showing signs of corrosion, the city said.
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