Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) is cautioning residents against overcharging lithium-ion batteries following a recent fire incident that resulted in the destruction of two homes in Richmond.
Responding to multiple reports of a house ablaze on Pelham Crescent just before 2 p.m. on Feb. 17, emergency crews arrived at the scene. Before their arrival, the homeowner heard a popping sound emanating from their garage, as per OFS spokesperson Nick DeFazio. Upon opening the garage door, they noticed smoke and flames along the wall.
By approximately 3:20 p.m., firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, but not before it had spread to a neighboring home, displacing its residents. OFS later confirmed that the fire originated from a lithium-ion drill battery that was charging on top of a fridge in the garage. This marked the second fire in Ottawa caused by such a battery in the current year. The first incident occurred in January when a dog chewed through a heated ski glove powered by a similar battery.
In light of these events, OFS issued a safety advisory as concerns over battery-related fires continue to rise.
According to OFS fire prevention officer Leanne Labbee, there have been at least 60 lithium-ion battery-related fires in Ottawa since 2022. Labbee emphasized the prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in modern households, stating that they power a wide range of devices. She demonstrated this by showcasing various items in her home, all fueled by lithium-ion batteries.
While these batteries are ubiquitous, their volatile nature necessitates careful handling. OFS recommends unplugging batteries once fully charged to prevent overcharging, which can lead to explosions. Signs that a battery may be on the verge of catching fire include hissing, expansion, or unusual odors.
Ontario’s fire marshal warned against charging batteries below freezing temperatures, such as in a garage, to avoid potential damage.
Labbee highlighted the challenges posed by lithium-ion battery fires, noting their emission of 10 times more carbon monoxide than fires fueled by accelerants like gasoline. Due to the battery’s chemical composition, extinguishing such fires with water is ineffective as the fire needs to burn through its cells to self-extinguish.
Unlike conventional alkaline batteries, lithium-ion batteries offer higher voltage and energy density, making them more efficient but also more prone to explosion. Yaser Abu-Lebdeh, from the National Research Council Canada, explained that tampering or overcharging these batteries can cause them to release toxic gases, leading to fires and explosions.
Abu-Lebdeh detailed the thermal runaway effect, wherein batteries rapidly heat up and ignite due to a chain reaction. While safer alternatives are under development with less flammable components, commercialization is on the horizon as ongoing breakthroughs in battery technology progress.
