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E-Scooter Blaze Erupts at HIV Hospital
28 Dec
Summary
- An e-scooter fire occurred at Casey House, a hospital for people with HIV.
- Ten patients sustained minor injuries and were treated by paramedics.
- Lithium battery fires from e-bikes and e-scooters are a growing safety risk.
Firefighters responded to an e-scooter fire at Casey House, a specialty hospital for those with or at risk of HIV, on Saturday afternoon. The fire began in an unoccupied inpatient room, believed to be caused by a lithium battery. Twelve inpatient clients were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
While the fire has been extinguished, paramedics treated ten individuals for minor injuries. Outpatient services are scheduled to resume on Monday. This incident underscores a significant safety concern, as Toronto's fire chief has noted e-bike and e-scooter battery fires as the city's largest growing fire safety risk.
Data from the city reveals a concerning trend, with lithium-ion battery-sparked fires in Toronto more than doubling from 29 in 2022 to 76 in 2024. This escalating risk highlights the urgent need for increased regulation regarding these power sources.
