Ottawa Councillors Seek Ontario Fire Code Changes for Lithium-Ion Battery Storage

Some Ottawa city councillors are calling for Ontario's fire code to be updated to more heavily regulate indoor storage and charging of e-bikes and other electronic devices because of the risk of battery fires. The request comes in a motion from Barrhaven West Coun.

David Hill, passed Thursday by Ottawa's emergency preparedness and protective services committee. Hill's motion singles out electric bikes and scooters. It notes that the city has no specific regulations for charging or storing lithium-ion battery, and that the province has jurisdiction over fire safety rules.

The motion will now go to full city council for final approval.

Thursday's meeting, Ottawa Fire Services Chief Paul Hutt supported Hill's motion. "This is a case where technology is advancing so quickly and the legislation is not keeping up with it. Certainly, lithium-ion batteries [are] an issue ... across Ontario," Hutt said.

City staff said since 2024, firefighters have responded to 54 fires related to lithium-ion batteries, with 23 causing significant structural damage. 5 per cent of OFS's total fire response. S.

One reason could be a lower concentration of highrises where residents tend to charge their vehicles and e-bikes indoors. " Officials also warn against people using batteries that have been modified, are worn out, were bought from a third party or have unrecognized brands, as they might have been altered to bypass built-in safety controls.

Ontario is consulting on possible changes to e-bike rules, but so far the proposals focus more on road safety. CBC News has asked Ontario's fire marshal's office for a response.