Several burnt electric bikes were observed surrounded by police tape outside a high-rise building in Regent Park following a two-alarm fire that emergency crews swiftly responded to on Thursday.
Toronto Police and Fire rushed to the scene at River and Oak streets at approximately 1:40 p.m.
The fire, which broke out in a sixth-floor unit, was promptly extinguished. Authorities rescued two individuals and three dogs from the unit, all of whom were evaluated at the scene. Paramedics noted that the two individuals declined transportation to the hospital.
Thankfully, there were no other reported injuries.
After the incident, a few e-bikes displaying signs of fire damage were placed on the building’s front lawn, under police cordon. However, officials have not yet confirmed their direct involvement in the fire.
While roads in the vicinity were temporarily shut down for investigation purposes, they have since been reopened.
Toronto Fire Department has been vocal about the risks associated with the lithium-ion batteries found in e-bikes, emphasizing the need for stricter government regulations on these devices. Both Fire Chief Jim Jessop and Mayor Olivia Chow have raised concerns about the safety of these batteries.
The city has witnessed over 100 incidents of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries this year, with a recent incident in Scarborough on Tuesday resulting in an individual sustaining injuries.
