**** Via Halifax Professional Firefighters
Lithium-Ion Battery Failure Prompts Apartment Building Response
At 9:14 PM last night, #hfxfirefighters responded to a burning smell coming from the sixth floor of an apartment building on Nova Court in Dartmouth.
Our members arrived quickly and located an e-scooter experiencing lithium-ion battery failure. The scooter was safely removed from the building, where hazardous materials technicians isolated the battery and secured it in a specialized overpack drum. Thankfully, there was no extension to the building and no injuries were reported.
As lithium-ion batteries become more abundant, incidents involving them are becoming more common. When lithium-ion batteries fail, they can release toxic and flammable gases, generate intense heat, and reignite without warning, making them especially dangerous to handle.
A few simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk:
✅ Purchase certified batteries and devices.
✅ Always use the manufacturer’s recommended charger.
✅ Avoid charging overnight or when no one is home.
✅ If a battery is damaged, overheating, swelling, or emitting an unusual odour, stop using it immediately, and call 911.
Our members are trained and equipped to safely manage these incidents, but prevention remains the best defence.
