Toronto authorities are looking into another case involving lithium-ion batteries after a two-alarm fire at a downtown apartment left three individuals injured.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning at a fourth-floor unit in a Toronto Community Housing building on George Street near Dundas Street East. Firefighters swiftly responded to the scene to tackle the blaze.
According to officials, a lithium-ion battery was a factor in the fire, though its specific usage remains uncertain.
Toronto Fire Division Commander Paul O’Brien informed CityNews that three people sustained injuries during the fire. Paramedics took two individuals to the hospital, while one person sought medical attention independently. The severity of their injuries is still under assessment, but initial reports indicate that one individual has non-life-threatening injuries.
The fire has since been put out, averting further damage.
The frequency of fires involving lithium-ion batteries has raised concerns within the city. Toronto Fire has dealt with 76 such incidents this year alone, resulting in two fatalities and 14 injuries.
Recently, a separate two-alarm fire occurred in a unit within a city-managed shelter housed in a former hotel in Etobicoke. Lithium-ion batteries were discovered among the charred remains within the unit.
During the same period, Toronto Fire highlighted that compromised e-bike batteries played a role in an apartment fire in St. James Town, causing injuries to four individuals, including two children.
