Fire department issues warning about battery risk after house fire

“Watch for fire,” is the new warning from the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) if you’re riding around on e-bikes or e-scooters.

SFD confirmed an electric scooter caused a house fire Wednesday morning in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood.

“They (residents) heard a large bang, and the scooter burst into flames,” he said. “They had purchased (the scooter) used a few months ago,” said Rob Hoga, Deputy Chief of Operations and Communications for Saskatoon Fire.

“If it’s the right charger and the right battery, and there’s no issues of the battery, there’s traditionally no problems with (scooters).”

According to a release from the Saskatoon Fire Department, there were no injuries. “Firefighters observed smoke and flame from multiple windows in a house.” (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

Hogan said this is not an isolated incident.

According to Dragonfly Energy, a battery manufacturer when a lithium-ion battery is damaged, or an incompatible charger is used, a chemical reaction can happen.

“It causes the battery going into what’s called ‘thermal runway’, and that’s what happened here,” Hogan explained.

“This is happening more and more as these scooters, and all these types of lithium-ion batteries, become more and more prevalent in Canada.”

In January, a fire was sparked by a battery-powered toy, which malfunctioned. (Saskatoon Fire Department/Submitted)

The battery cells’ safety and stability depend on maintaining internal temperatures within specific limits. If the temperature exceeds the critical level on either end, thermal runaway can occur, destroying the battery or, even worse, starting a fire.

Thermal runaway is a chain reaction within a battery cell that can be very difficult to stop once it has started.

It happens when the temperature inside a battery reaches the point that causes a chemical reaction to occur inside the battery.

This chemical reaction produces even more heat, which drives the temperature higher, causing further chemical reactions that create more heat.

In thermal runaway, the battery cell temperature rises incredibly fast, in mere milliseconds. The energy stored in that battery is released very suddenly.

This chain reaction creates extremely high temperatures, around 400 degrees Celsius. These temperatures can cause a fire that is so hot, it can be nearly impossible to extinguish.

Melissa and Delwin Jimmy were at home in their rented basement suite in the 400 block of Avenue V. S. when the fire broke out.

“I just seen the older senior tenant running down the back stairs. So, my husband grabbed the garden hose and threw it into the suite there, but it was already engulfed in the living room,” said Melissa.

Hogan clarified this was a stand-up motorized e-scooter, not a mobility aid.

“This was a little kick scooter, like you see around the city, that you to stand on and ride,” he said. “They were charging it inside the house.”

The Saskatoon Fire Department confirmed an electric scooter caused a house fire on Oct. 16 in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood. (Céline Grimard/650 CKOM)

“We advise everyone to pursue a reputable dealer, to use the device according to manufacturer’s instructions. I’d recommend making sure that when you do charge it, you charge it during the day when someone’s home, charging in a garage or an outbuilding of some kind,” he advises.

“Don’t leave it plugged in overnight. Don’t use a different charger for some other device. And take care of it. If the battery gets damaged, take it back to the manufacturer and who you bought it from, and make sure it’s still in good working order.”