‘We found a tremendous amount of lithium-ion batteries’: In blaze aftermath, Norfolk officials issue advisory

The Norfolk Fire Department is warning of the hazards of lithium-ion batteries following an explosion and large fire. Sean Irvine explains.

A blaze in Norfolk County is drawing considerable attention from fire experts.

No one was hurt in the incident, nor was the damage extensive.

But what was inside has firefighters warning about the potential risks of lithium-ion batteries.

The fire, in the hamlet of Walsh, approximately 15 kilometres south of Delhi, broke out shortly after 9:30 p.m. Monday.

Three people in an upper-floor apartment managed to escape before it spread.

“Residents were alerted to a loud boom and smoke in their building. Fire crews arrived, and they found heavy smoke coming from the three garage bays behind me,” said Norfolk Fire Department Deputy Chief James Robertson.

25 firefighters spent three hours bringing the blaze at the antique garage shop under control.

Robertson says the investigation might have ended there had it not been for a discovery made by firefighters that prompted them to call in the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.

“We found a tremendous amount of lithium-ion batteries and accessories that go with them,” he said.

Robertson told CTV News that posed a significant concern.

“It’s always a hazard for firefighters, when these batteries, well, if they are compromised, can go into thermal runaway, posing a health and explosion risk for firefighters.” He explained.

It is important to note that the cause of this fire remains undetermined. However, the stockpile of lithium-ion batteries found Monday led Norfolk fire to issue a general advisory about the products commonly found in many technology products.

“Anytime a lithium-ion battery is involved in a fire, that fire can quickly become very large, even if started very small and had nothing to do with the battery,” explained Corey Armstrong-Smith, a fire prevention officer.

“Just the presence of those batteries in the environment creates a fire and a bigger problem to deal with,” he added.

Armstrong-Smith acknowledges the timing of the message coincides with the upcoming holiday season and a rise in the number of fires.

“Across North America, we are attending a lot more of these fires,” he said.

Armstong-Smith says that reality has led to heightened awareness of all fire departments.

“There’s been a lot of interest from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and from departments across North America to learn how to do we combat these before we can’t control them,” he said.

While raising concerns, Norfolk officials underline that lithium-ion batteries are safe when properly used, maintained, and stored.