Firefighters were called to Casey House just before 3 p.m. on Saturday to extinguish a fire involving an e-scooter. The medical facility, specializing in HIV care and located near Jarvis Street and Isabella Street in Toronto, had the fire under control by 3:10 p.m. Paramedics transported six patients to another location following the incident.
According to Lisa McDonald, the communications director, the small fire originated in an unoccupied inpatient room and appeared to be caused by a lithium battery. McDonald mentioned that e-bikes and e-scooters are prohibited inside Casey House. Twelve inpatient clients were evacuated during the incident, but outpatient services are expected to resume as usual on Monday morning.
Earlier this year, Toronto’s Fire Chief, Jim Jessop, urged the federal government to enhance regulations on lithium-ion batteries due to the rising risk of battery-related fires associated with e-bikes and e-scooters. The city reported a significant increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, with the number rising from 29 in 2022 to 76 in 2024.
The surge in battery-related fires has prompted concerns about safety, with reports indicating a 162 per cent spike in such incidents in Toronto. This trend underscores the need for heightened awareness and precautions regarding the use of lithium-ion batteries in various electronic devices, including e-bikes, smartphones, and laptops.