ST. THOMAS – A replacement lithium-ion battery in a hunting device appears to have been the cause of a fire that gutted a home here and severely damaged the one next door.
The home on Penhale Avenue in the city’s south end was fully engulfed in flames that had spread to a neighbouring house when firefighters arrived Sunday just after 7 p.m., fire officials said. Both families were home and managed to escape safely, with their pets, but the blaze underscores growing concern over fires triggered by overheated lithium-ion batteries.
Casey Baker was at home with his wife and two sons, ages four and 15 months, and their dog when the fire started in his garage. Baker said he suspected the fire was started by a replacement battery, not the original, for a duck decoy used in duck hunting. He’d purchased it online.
“I’m pretty sure it was that one that started it,” Baker said. “It seemed to be warmer than other batteries when you charged it . . . I don’t know, but that’s what my intuition is.”
Also stored in the garage were propane tanks, spray paint cans and gas cans that fueled the blaze.
The risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries – a type of rechargeable battery – is becoming a concern because of the wide range of consumer products, such as cellphones, laptops, tablets, scooters, hand tools and lawn mowers that use them.
Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal provides expertise on fire safety and has begun keeping track of fires due to lithium-ion batteries, said John McBeth, a deputy fire marshal with the agency, although specific numbers weren’t available.
“We’re seeing a lot more of these devices out there,” McBeth said. “With an increased number of devices comes the increased potential that you’re going to see fire-related incidences.”
Lithium-ion batteries have been implicated in a growing number of fires in Canada, triggering public safety warnings by fire departments and others. The rechargeable batteries have grown in popularity amid the demand for smaller and more powerful electrical supply for devices.
McBeth said the batteries become dangerous when they undergo a failure known as “thermal runaway,” which can occur when they’re overcharged, misused or damaged.
“Thermal runaway is when a battery generates more heat than it can release to its surroundings, and so this excessive heat causes a reaction, which then causes even more heat, and it creates a cycle that can lead to fires or explosions,” he said.
McBeth said using specific chargers for specific devices can reduce the risk of thermal runaway. Even leaving a cellphone charging unmonitored overnight has been flagged as a safety concern.
There was no immediate damage estimate for Sunday’s blaze, which gutted the house where it started and damaged the siding and attic of the one next door. Baker said it could be six months to a year before he and his family will be able to return to their home.
The duck decoy battery was taken to a fire hall, officials noted, because they can hold a charge and pose a fire hazard days later.
Lithium-ion battery safety tips from Ontario’s fire marshal
- Use a charger that was designed for and came with the device.
- Use specific chargers for specific devices.
- Don’t tamper with or attempt to modify lithium-ion batteries.
- Charge products away from exit doors and stairwells in case they catch fire
- Look for device chargers with the Canadian certification markings
- Don’t charge cellphones when you’re sleeping.
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