Lithium-ion battery fires on the rise in Montreal, fire service warns

Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly the cause of fires in Montreal, and the city's fire service is working to spread awareness about this growing problem.

That's according to an annual report published by the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) that says there's been a 195 per cent increase in lithium fires over the last two years.

There were 24 such fires in 2022, 43 in 2023 and 71 in 2024.

This rise is largely due to the increasing popularity of micromobility devices (scooters, electric bicycles, etc.) powered by this type of battery, the report says.

Along with intensifying awareness campaigns, the report says the SIM is working to modify municipal regulations to better regulate the use, storage and disposal of lithium-ion batteries.

This report comes after a large-scale lithium battery fire in September sent a thick cloud of toxic gas over eastern Montreal.

In that case, 15,000 kilograms of lithium batteries inside a shipping container caught fire at the Port of Montreal.

Batteries are 'basically everywhere'

Robert Rousseau, a divisional chief with the fire service, said lithium-ion batteries are also found in portable electronics like smartphones and laptops.

"There's a presence basically everywhere," he said. "If you go back about 10 years ago at home, we used desktop computers ... Now everybody has a laptop. Nobody has landlines anymore. So everybody has a cellphone."

There are also power tools and other devices powered by these batteries, he said.

Rousseau said the Montreal fire service is prepared to manage fires with specialized tools and containers that control and suppress fires.

"We can put the batteries on them when they ignite, so it stops the thermal reaction," he said.

Rousseau said it is important that people are using certified batteries that are in good condition. He said charging cables must also be in good condition. It's important to use original or approved accessories.

Montreal certainly isn't the only Canadian city tackling lithium battery safety in recent years. Authorities in cities like Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver have issued warnings.

There have been several deaths associated with lithium-ion battery fires across Canada. According to Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, five people were killed in the city in 2022 as a result of batteries.

In December, the Toronto Transit Commission board voted to ban electric bikes and scooters with lithium-ion batteries from TTC vehicles and stations during winter due to fire concerns.

Lithium-ion batteries generally safe

Randy Narine is among those who have been pushing for stricter regulations on transportation and storage of lithium batteries. 

He is an Ontario-based firefighter and lithium-ion researcher with the Clean Energy Safety and Training Council of Canada, an organization dedicated to providing training and research to front-line workers and first responders in the clean energy sector.

He said lithium-ion battery products are safe when used responsibly.

"But then when you get these DIY batteries, these do-it-yourselfers, or a battery that's been abused — that is where there is more of a chance of something happening," he said.

Narine said that public safety is more than just an individual responsibility.

"The fire service needs to do more to educate the public and the manufacturers need to do more to educate the public," he said.

When the large fire in the Port of Montreal sent the cloud rolling into Montreal neighbourhoods, firefighters were seen breathing oxygen while walking the streets, talking to residents about the situation. About 100 people fled the area.

In that case, the lithium batteries in a storage container entered thermal runaway, which required firefighters to cool the container for hours, aided by a special drill from airport colleagues.

At the time, Martin Guilbault, division chief with the Montreal fire service, said this was a first in his 32-year career, and he suspects this isn't the last large-scale lithium battery fire.

Batteries release gases when burning

Along with the fire safety risks, burning batteries release hazardous chemicals. Among them, hydrogen fluoride, which can cause chemical burns, eye irritation and respiratory distress.

Acute exposure can even lead to a risk of heart attack or stroke, according to McGill University epidemiology professor Jill Baumgartner. She said health risks depend on the length of exposure, pollutant concentrations and individual vulnerability.

Jinhyuk Lee, assistant professor of materials engineering at McGill University, advises against using high-wattage fast chargers, especially for less sophisticated devices, and recommends avoiding charging to 100 per cent.

He explained that higher energy storage in batteries increases risk. While modern phones and electric vehicles have software to prevent overheating, he said limiting the charge to 80 per cent is safer.

He said storing devices at a higher temperature or overusing devices can cause batteries to overheat.

Lee notes that nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries, which store more energy, are less stable than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, making LFP a safer option. The NMC batteries tend to be used in more sophisticated devices, like Teslas, and require extra safety features, he said.

"The lithium iron phosphate battery, generally you have less of the safety features because you don't need that much," Lee said. "It's safer."