Toronto's Lithium-Ion Fire Surge: A Warning for Our Waste Infrastructure

Toronto is currently grappling with a dangerous escalation in lithium-ion battery fires, signaling a systemic failure to keep pace with the proliferation of e-waste and micromobility devices. According to reporting from CBC Toronto, the city has already surpassed its previous annual record for these incidents. While 91 fires were logged in all of 2025, Toronto Fire Services has already dealt with 97 incidents so far in 2026.

This spike is not merely a statistical anomaly; it is a public safety crisis. Capt. Deepak Chagger told Global News that the service has seen more of these fires this year than ever before. The danger is particularly acute with micromobility devices such as e-scooters, e-hoverboards, and e-bikes. Division Chief Marla Friebe told Global News that these devices account for the bulk of the fires crews are encountering, often exacerbated by users who overcharge batteries, use non-recommended chargers, or purchase incompatible parts. Friebe also noted that some users tamper with batteries to increase speed or power, further elevating the risk.

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**Opinion: The Infrastructure Gap**

While Toronto Fire Services emphasizes that these batteries are generally safe if handled correctly, the current trajectory suggests that individual caution is not enough. The fact that lithium-ion batteries were behind two separate fires at the Ashwarren Road recycling facility on May 21—which Global News reports resulted in a three-alarm blaze—highlights a terrifying reality: our waste and recycling infrastructure is not equipped for the volatility of modern e-waste. When these cells enter "thermal runaway," a self-heating state described by the UL Research Institutes, they can combust uncontrollably. If our own recycling centers are vulnerable, the risk to residential neighborhoods is immense.

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The human cost is already mounting. CBC Toronto reports that 14 injuries are associated with the 2026 incidents. In one harrowing example cited by Global News, a fire broke out in a fourth-floor apartment unit on Aug. 12 at George and Dundas streets after an e-bike battery ignited; a tenant reportedly threw the burning battery into a bathtub. Four people required care from paramedics, and one was hospitalized.

Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop has described this as the "greatest evolving fire safety risk in Canada’s largest city." In an interview with CBC Toronto, Jessop explained that these blazes are faster than typical fires and can involve exploding batteries that become projectiles. Furthermore, the toxic chemicals involved leave carcinogens on firefighter gear, necessitating specialized decontamination.

Solving this requires more than just public service announcements. Jessop has called on all levels of government to pursue regulatory changes to reduce the probability and consequences of these fires. Similarly, Paul Boissonneault, Fire Chief in Oakville and secretary with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFS), told CBC Toronto that CAFS is advocating for tighter import controls, particularly regarding offshore products that lack safety ratings.

While the Ontario fire marshal is considering changes to the provincial fire code and CAFS is looking toward national building and fire code updates scheduled for 2030, the immediate danger remains. Until there is a harmonized approach to battery safety and a robust, city-wide system for approved disposal, Toronto remains a tinderbox for e-waste.