Toronto's 250% Surge in Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: What Canadian Property Managers Need to Know

Introduction

In August 2026, Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop confirmed what many in the property management and insurance sectors had been watching with growing concern: lithium-ion battery fires in Toronto have increased by 250 percent since 2022. The data, reported by Insurance Business Canada on August 19, 2026, reflects a city-wide pattern that is already reshaping how underwriters assess commercial and residential property risk across Canada.

For commercial property managers, multi-unit residential building owners, condo corporations, and corporate facilities directors, this is not a distant headline. It is a direct signal that lithium battery fire safety Canada-wide has moved from a niche concern to a mainstream operational and insurance priority. The question is no longer whether to address it, but how to do so in a structured, defensible, and practical way.

What Happened: The Municipal Data

According to the Insurance Business Canada report published August 19, 2026, Toronto Fire Services recorded a 250 percent increase in lithium-ion battery-related fires between 2022 and the time of reporting. Fire Chief Jim Jessop attributed the rise to the rapid proliferation of lithium-powered devices across residential and commercial settings, including e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools, and consumer electronics.

The report noted that these incidents are placing increased pressure on municipal fire resources and that insurers are beginning to factor lithium battery exposure into their underwriting assessments for commercial and multi-unit residential properties. While the data is specific to Toronto, the underlying drivers — growing device density, inconsistent charging practices, and aging or counterfeit battery products — are present in every major Canadian city.

It is important to note that the 250 percent figure reflects reported incidents within Toronto Fire Services jurisdiction. The data does not imply that all incidents resulted in significant structural damage, nor does it suggest that lithium-ion batteries are inherently unsafe when used correctly. What it does confirm is that the frequency of incidents is rising in proportion to adoption rates, and that property-level preparedness has not kept pace.

Why Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Are Different

Understanding why lithium-ion battery fires present a distinct challenge is essential for anyone responsible for building safety or emergency response planning.

The core mechanism is thermal runaway. When a lithium-ion cell is damaged, overcharged, exposed to excessive heat, or reaches the end of its service life in a compromised state, it can enter a self-sustaining chemical reaction that generates intense heat from within the cell itself. Unlike a conventional fire that requires an external fuel source, thermal runaway is driven by the energy stored inside the battery. This means that removing the ignition source or applying a standard extinguishing agent may not stop the reaction.

Several characteristics make these fires operationally challenging. First, the heat generated during thermal runaway can be extreme, often exceeding temperatures that standard Class A or Class B extinguishing agents are designed to address. Second, lithium-ion fires carry a significant reignition risk: a battery that appears to have been suppressed can restart the thermal runaway process hours later if the cells have not been adequately cooled. Third, the gases released during thermal runaway — including hydrogen fluoride and other toxic compounds — create serious inhalation hazards that affect evacuation and response decisions.

It is also important to clarify that not all battery fires behave identically. The chemistry, form factor, state of charge, and physical condition of the battery all influence how a fire develops. A small consumer device battery and a large e-bike battery pack will present very different response challenges. Facilities teams should not assume that a single response protocol covers all scenarios without professional guidance.

Who Is Most at Risk

The properties most exposed to lithium-ion battery fire risk share a common characteristic: dense charging environments where multiple devices are charged simultaneously, often in spaces not originally designed for that purpose.

Multi-unit residential buildings and condo corporations face particular exposure. Residents routinely charge e-bikes, e-scooters, and power wheelchairs in common areas, parking garages, storage lockers, and individual units. Condo boards often lack enforceable charging protocols, and building staff may not be trained to identify early warning signs of battery degradation.

Commercial property managers overseeing mixed-use or retail properties face similar challenges, particularly where tenants operate delivery fleets, mobility equipment, or high-density electronics storage. The liability exposure in these environments is compounded by the fact that tenant charging practices are difficult to monitor and control.

Corporate facilities directors managing warehouses, distribution centres, or manufacturing facilities that rely on lithium-powered forklifts, automated guided vehicles, or large-format battery storage systems are operating in environments where a single thermal runaway event can have significant consequences for business continuity, inventory, and personnel safety.

Occupational health and safety officers across all of these sectors are increasingly being asked to develop written procedures for lithium battery handling, charging, and emergency response — often without clear regulatory guidance or established industry standards to reference.

Prevention and Practical Preparedness

Effective lithium battery fire prevention is built on consistent operational discipline rather than any single product or technology. The following measures represent a practical baseline for facilities of any size.

Charging protocols should be formalized in writing and communicated to all staff, tenants, or residents who charge lithium-powered devices on the property. Protocols should specify approved charging locations, maximum charging durations, and the requirement to use only manufacturer-approved charging equipment. Counterfeit or uncertified chargers are a leading contributor to battery failures and should be explicitly prohibited.

Routine inspection programs should include visual checks of batteries and charging equipment for physical damage, swelling, discolouration, or unusual odour. Batteries that show any of these signs should be removed from service immediately and isolated in a designated area away from combustible materials pending proper disposal. Staff responsible for these inspections should receive documented training on what to look for and how to report findings.

Charging areas should be kept clear of combustible materials and should ideally be located in areas with hard, non-combustible flooring and adequate ventilation. Where possible, charging should not occur in unoccupied or unsupervised spaces overnight, particularly for high-capacity battery systems.

Emergency response procedures specific to lithium battery incidents should be developed, documented, and rehearsed. These procedures should address evacuation routes, communication protocols, and the location of any specialized response equipment. Staff should understand that a lithium battery fire may require a different response than a conventional fire and that calling emergency services promptly is always the correct first action.

Fire-Response Considerations and Specialized Equipment

Establishing a response strategy before an incident occurs is one of the most important steps a property or facilities team can take. Reactive decision-making during a lithium battery fire event — when conditions can change rapidly — significantly increases the risk of injury and property damage.

Standard water-based suppression and conventional dry chemical extinguishers are generally not optimized for lithium-ion battery fires. The primary challenge is not flame suppression but thermal management: reducing the temperature of the battery cells to interrupt or slow the thermal runaway process. This is why specialized agents and equipment have been developed specifically for this application.

AVD (Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion) lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers are designed to address this cooling requirement. AVD agents work by coating the battery cells with a thermally insulating layer while simultaneously absorbing heat, which can help slow the progression of thermal runaway. The 6L AVD Lithium Ion Battery Fire Extinguisher and the AVD 50L Wheeled Lithium Ion Battery Fire Extinguisher are examples of purpose-built options suited to different facility scales, from a single charging station to a large commercial fleet environment. The AVD 2L Fire Extinguisher offers a compact option for smaller or more distributed deployments.

AVD fire blankets provide a complementary containment option for smaller battery fires, particularly involving individual devices or battery packs. The Lithium Battery AVD Fire Blankets are designed to help contain a burning battery, limit the spread of fire and toxic gases, and reduce radiant heat exposure while evacuation and emergency services response occur. It is important to understand that fire blankets are a containment tool, not a guaranteed extinguishment solution, and their use should be part of a broader response plan rather than a standalone strategy.

For facilities managing larger battery systems or EV charging infrastructure, the AVD Fire Suppression Kit offers a more comprehensive response package. Facilities teams should consult with a qualified fire safety professional to determine which equipment configuration is appropriate for their specific risk profile.

A note on product claims: no extinguishing agent or containment product can guarantee total suppression of a lithium-ion battery fire in all circumstances. The goal of specialized equipment is to improve response outcomes, reduce the rate of fire spread, and support safe evacuation — not to replace professional fire services or eliminate risk entirely. Always follow manufacturer instructions and ensure that any equipment selected is appropriate for the specific battery chemistry and scale of risk present in your facility.

For further context on lithium battery fire protection equipment and the AVD product category, visit the AVD collection on the LithiumSafe Fire website.

LithiumSafe Fire: A Canadian Resource for Lithium Battery Fire Protection

LithiumSafe Fire is a Canadian supplier specializing in lithium-ion battery fire protection equipment. The company focuses on providing property managers, facilities teams, and safety officers with access to purpose-built products and practical guidance for managing lithium battery fire risk in commercial and residential environments.

Whether you are reviewing your current fire safety equipment, developing a new emergency response protocol, or looking to understand which products are appropriate for your facility's specific risk profile, the LithiumSafe Fire team is available to assist.

You may also find the following resources useful as you develop your lithium battery safety program:

To explore lithium battery fire protection equipment or to speak with the team about your facility's needs, visit www.lithiumsafefire.com or contact LithiumSafe Fire directly through the website.

Sources

Insurance Business Canada. (August 19, 2026). Toronto's lithium-ion battery fires are up 250% since 2022, data show. Retrieved from Insurance Business Canada.

Toronto Fire Services. Municipal incident data as reported by Fire Chief Jim Jessop, August 2026.

Back to blog