The Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario has determined that the cause of Saturday’s fire on Moira Street West has been deemed electrical in nature, involving lithium-ion batteries.
In a release on Wednesday, Belleville Fire and Emergency Services say they responded to a report of a residential structure fire in the 100 block of Moira Street West on Saturday at around 5 a.m.
Upon arrival, fire crews were met with a heavy fire coming from the front entrance of a multi-unit residential building.
Two residents within the unit were extricated by fire personnel.
The fire was investigated by the Office of the Fire Marshal in conjunction with the local fire.
One of the residents has since been identified in a GoFundMe page as Chris Keegan, with the page stating that he is in serious condition at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.
Over $6,500 had been raised for Keegan as of 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Belleville Fire Chief Dan Smith is reminding residents of the following fire safety tips:
- Make sure every level of your home has working smoke alarms
- Keep stairwells and access to exits clear at all times
- Plan your escape and know your meeting place
Additionally, Belleville Fire and Emergency Services would like to share the following lithium-ion battery fire safety tips:
- Use only chargers and batteries compatible with the device you are charging
- Do not leave any lithium-ion device on a charger unattended
- Do not attempt to charge damaged or swollen batteries
- Do not store e-bikes or mobility devices where they will impede access to exits
Belleville Fire says this is the second lithium-ion fire that has caused critical injuries.
“This devastating loss is part of the tragic pattern of lithium-ion-powered devices becoming extreme fire hazards that we’re seeing across the province,” said Fire Marshal Jon Pegg in the release.
“These incidents are happening more frequently right across Ontario, both urban and rural, no matter the size of the community. When using a lithium-ion battery, you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the safe operation of the device. Using replacement chargers and batteries not specified by the manufacturer, or using aftermarket or third-party chargers and batteries, is a fire safety risk. I need everyone in Ontario to take the matter seriously as your life depends on it.”
