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Some Ottawa city councillors are calling for Ontario’s fire code to be updated to more heavily regulate indoor storage and charging of e-bikes and other electronic devices because of the risk of battery fires.
The request comes in a motion from Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill, passed Thursday by Ottawa’s emergency preparedness and protective services committee.
Hill’s motion singles out electric bikes and scooters. It notes that the city has no specific regulations for charging or storing lithium-ion battery, and that the province has jurisdiction over fire safety rules.
The motion will now go to full city council for final approval.
At Thursday’s meeting, Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) Chief Paul Hutt supported Hill’s motion.
“This is a case where technology is advancing so quickly and the legislation is not keeping up with it. Certainly, lithium-ion batteries [are] an issue … across Ontario,” Hutt said.
Lithium-ion batteries have become a safety concern across Ontario, said Ottawa Fire Services Chief Paul Hutt. (Jean Delisle/CBC)
Ontario is consulting on possible changes to e-bike rules, but so far the proposals focus more on road safety.
CBC News has asked Ontario’s fire marshal’s office for a response.
54 fires since 2024
Besides scooters and e-bikes, rechargeable batteries are commonly found in electric cars, laptops, smartphones and other electronic devices.
City staff said since 2024, firefighters have responded to 54 fires related to lithium-ion batteries, with 23 causing significant structural damage. Those 54 fires represent about 1.5 per cent of OFS’s total fire response.
That does not count a fire in Nepean this week that was caused by an e-bike battery.
Staff also note that Ottawa has fewer lithium-ion battery fires than many other large cities in Canada and the U.S. One reason could be a lower concentration of highrises where residents tend to charge their vehicles and e-bikes indoors.
Experts say leaving fully charged batteries plugged in or charging on soft surfaces is risky.
“Where you have multi-residence highrises where people are taking [electric] scooters and e-bikes and they’re putting them in their living areas — that just does not mix,” Hutt said in an interview.
Officials also warn against people using batteries that have been modified, are worn out, were bought from a third party or have unrecognized brands, as they might have been altered to bypass built-in safety controls.
WATCH | Some of the key safety information:
Fire prevention officer shares safety tips after lithium-ion battery fire in Richmond
After an overcharged lithium-ion battery set two homes ablaze in Richmond, Ottawa Fire Services reports increased battery use and there have been at least 60 fires involving lithium-ion batteries in the city since 2022. CBC’s Justin Ball reports.