Firefighters in Norfolk County are advising the public to review their storage and charging practices for lithium ion batteries following a significant fire incident south of Simcoe, Ont., on Monday. A team of twenty-five firefighters from four different stations responded to a former automotive repair facility in Walsh village. The Norfolk County Fire Department reported that the facility was repurposed as a hobby shop where ebikes and other battery-operated equipment were kept.
According to Fire chief Dave Puype, the incident began with a minor explosion inside the shop, followed by the emergence of dense smoke in the apartments above. Puype mentioned the discovery of numerous lithium ion batteries within the unit, emphasizing the challenges in extinguishing fires involving such batteries due to their nature. He highlighted the potential risks associated with lithium ion batteries, citing the phenomenon of “thermal runaway,” which causes rapid overheating and the release of hazardous fumes, leading to the risk of reignition even after the initial fire is controlled.
Puype stressed the prolonged threat posed by re-ignition, which could occur days or even weeks after the primary incident, making these fires exceptionally hazardous compared to standard structural fires. The fire department issued safety recommendations for handling lithium ion batteries, including using approved chargers, avoiding overnight or unattended charging, discontinuing use of damaged batteries, keeping devices away from flammable materials, and ensuring the presence of functional smoke alarms in areas where batteries are stored or charged.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, all residents in the upstairs apartments managed to evacuate safely along with their pets, and there were no reported injuries. Puype acknowledged the relative rarity of such fires but underscored the prevalence of lithium ion batteries in various fire incidents attended by the department.