Calgary Fire warns of lithium-ion battery fire risk after three incidents in 24 hours

Calgary Fire responded to three separate lithium-ion battery fires between Thursday morning and Friday morning, each originating from devices left charging unattended.

On Thursday, August 6, at 9:25 a.m., crews arrived at a home in the 0-100 block of Covercreek Mews NE to find heavy smoke in the garage. Firefighters discovered three electric scooters being charged, with one identified as the fire's source. One occupant was assessed for smoke inhalation; there was no fire damage inside the home.

Less than 18 hours later, at 3:35 a.m. Friday, August 7, crews responded to a fire in an exterior compactor at a large commercial warehouse in the 6600 block of 106 Avenue SE. Staff reported seeing a glow from boxes before the fire started. Investigators determined lithium-ion batteries inadvertently left in the compactor caused the blaze, which crews extinguished with a fire extinguisher.

Minutes after, at 3:50 a.m., firefighters arrived at a home in the 0-100 block of Saddlemont Close NE with smoke coming from a basement. All occupants had evacuated safely. A cat was rescued during the search. Investigators found the fire originated from a plugged-in electric scooter.

The fire department recommends unplugging devices once they reach 100 per cent charge, never leaving batteries unattended while charging, and avoiding devices showing signs of damage, swelling, overheating, or physical deterioration. Residents should follow manufacturer instructions and use compatible chargers, and dispose of batteries properly rather than placing them in blue, black, or green carts.