An e-bike fire that spread to a home in Peterborough’s south end on Monday night (October 5) caused an estimated $500,000 in damage after the bike’s battery apparently exploded.
Shortly before 9 p.m., Peterborough Fire Services responded to a 911 call from a neighbour who reported an explosion at a home on McKellar Street at Survey Street, between Erskine Avenue and Monaghan Road.
Arriving firefighters found an e-bike leaning against the home engulfed in flames. The fire was burning a fence and the side of the home, with flames reaching into the attic.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control. All occupants were out of the home, and one was treated by emergency medical services at the scene.
The fire comes amid growing concern about lithium-ion battery fires across Ontario, particularly those involving e-bikes and other electric mobility devices.
The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has warned that battery failures can produce intense fires that spread within seconds and release toxic smoke.
In Toronto, fire officials reported on September 21 that crews had responded to 100 lithium-ion battery fires so far in 2026 — a 43 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Those fires left one person dead and 14 others injured. The incidents include lithium-ion batteries in a range of devices, including e-bikes, e-scooters, and other rechargeable electronics.
Another suspected e-bike battery fire in Scarborough sent a man to hospital early Tuesday morning (October 6), just hours after the Peterborough blaze.
According to CityNews, Toronto firefighters were called to a building near Victoria Park and Danforth avenues at around 2:45 a.m., where the fire was believed to have started in an e-bike battery at the rear of the building.
A month earlier, on September 6, two people were taken to hospital with minor smoke inhalation after an e-bike battery caught fire in a laneway near St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street. Firefighters extinguished the flames before they spread into either neighbouring building, although smoke entered one of them.
An e-bike battery fire at a Scarborough high-rise on July 12 sent three people from neighbouring units to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“E-bike battery fires spread rapidly, produce toxic smoke, and pose serious risks to residents and firefighters,” Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop warned following that incident.
The Peterborough fire also coincides with Fire Prevention Week, running October 4 to 10, which this year focuses on safe charging habits.
Toronto Fire Services says lithium-ion batteries are generally safe when used properly, but damaged, defective, or improperly charged batteries can present a serious fire risk. It advises residents to use only manufacturer-approved batteries and charging equipment, follow instructions for charging and storage, and never modify or tamper with batteries.
Devices should be charged on a hard, flat surface away from combustible materials and unplugged once fully charged. Fire officials also advise against charging devices while sleeping or away from home, and recommend replacing batteries or charging equipment that are damaged, swollen, leaking, or overheating.
