The Chief of the Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services said early detection of a lithium ion battery fire likely saved a house from being totally destroyed on Monday, June 9, 2025.
Firefighters were dispatched to one side of a duplex on Cavan Street after numerous 9-1-1 calls and the owner of the house alerting emergency services there was smoke in the residence at approximately 1:40 p.m.
When fires crews arrived, wearing breathing apparatus they quickly entered the smoke filled house and determined the origin was a lithium ion battery on a couch on the main floor.
Chief Jason Williams said there was a “failure of the lithium ion battery pack on the surface of the sofa which caused the initial fire.”
Due to the fire being detected and quick arrival be fire crews there was limited damage to the home.
“But the fact that we did have a fire in a upholstered piece of furniture in a unoccupied house – if this fire was able to develop for any longer, even a couple of minutes, it would have been very, very difficult conditions upon our arrival.”
Williams said the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office is conducting a survey related to how many incidents of fires related to lithium ion batteries.
With a number of appliances using lithium ion batteries including e-bikes, computers, cell phones Williams said there are multiple ways a lithium ion battery can fail.
The OFM recommends when a lithium ion battery is being charged to place it on a non-combustible surface like a tile counter or something that won’t catch fire.”
Lithium ion batteries can fail any number of ways including being dropped, improper chargers or damaged.
‘The incidents of these fires occurring across Ontario is on the dramatic rise because so many appliances and devices we utilize everyday are powered by lithium ion batteries.”
Adding to the fire-risk is after market tampering with the batteries.
“When these types of batteries are damaged that can lead to thermal runaway where it actually overheats the battery and it explodes that cause ignition of most combustible materials in close proximity to that battery pack.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
