Lithium ion batteries blamed for 2 SRO fires in Vancouver
Firefighters responded to two fires at single-room occupancy hotels in Vancouver this week, both caused by lithium ion batteries – an increasing concern across the city.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services said the first blaze broke out Monday night, resulting in smoke and water damage to multiple units of the SRO. The second fire was sparked one day later at another address.
In both cases, authorities said an E-bike with a lithium battery was being charged by a modified or makeshift charger – not the manufacturer's supplied or recommended power source.
"It's creating excessive heating and thermal runaway effects within these batteries, and there's so much energy and potential energy inside them that they will explode," said Capt. Matthew Trudeau. "It looks like fireworks going off, and the effects can be pretty devastating."
Fortunately, sprinkler systems contained both of the fires to individual SRO units until crews could arrive and finish dousing the flames.
Lithium ion batteries have been a growing concern for Vancouver firefighters, who said the city has seen a 500 per cent increase in battery-associated fires since 2016.
Lithium batteries have also been linked to five fire-related deaths so far this year – more than any other fire source.
On June 11, another E-bike exploded at the Hotel Empress in the Downtown Eastside, killing one man who fell from a window.
Trudeau noted the batteries don't need to be improperly charged to pose a potential danger.
"They do have a risk inherent with them," he said. "We've seen battery fires in laptops, in bikes. We've seen them from all kinds of sources – and that's proving to be very challenging, and it's occurring at a fairly high rate."
But the use of modified chargers is particularly risky. Crews have found some chargers with modified wires, or alligator clips attached, so they can power devices they were not intended to charge.
Trudeau said he's currently collecting data on battery-associated fires in the city – including the total damage caused by lithium-powered devices – to better understand how firefighters and the public can reduce the risks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.