Toronto authorities are currently investigating a new case involving lithium-ion batteries following a 2-alarm fire that erupted early Wednesday within a city-managed shelter housed in a former hotel in Etobicoke.
Emergency crews responded to the incident at 2180 Islington Ave. near Dixon Road at 5:35 a.m., located in a 13-story high-rise building near Rexdale Boulevard. The structure, previously known as the Four Points by Sheraton, is now repurposed as a shelter under municipal jurisdiction.
Upon arrival, firefighters were met with thick black smoke billowing from a unit on the 7th floor, leading to the escalation of the emergency response to a 2-alarm status. A significant number of fire trucks, pump crews, and aerial units were deployed as the firefighters ascended the building to manage the situation.
Toronto Fire officials have confirmed that the fire was quickly extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, containing the damage to the original unit and preventing its spread to adjoining areas. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.
During the investigation inside the affected room, burnt lithium-ion batteries were discovered; however, authorities are still uncertain about the exact role these batteries played in the fire’s ignition.
This occurrence marks another instance of a lithium-ion battery-related event for Toronto Fire this week, following a recent serious fire at 666 Ontario Street where compromised e-bike batteries were identified as contributing factors to a significant apartment fire that caused injuries to four individuals, including two children.