Fire Prevention Week highlights growing fire risk and importance of battery safety

Burlington, Ont.—Oct. 5, 2026— Burlington Fire is back with a familiar message and an important reminder during Fire Prevention Week 2026: Buy safe. Charge safe. Use safe.

As rechargeable lithium-ion batteries become increasingly common in everyday devices such as smartphones, laptops, e-bikes, power tools and electric vehicles, Burlington Fire is encouraging residents to take steps to reduce the risk of battery-related fires.

While lithium-ion batteries are generally safe when used properly, fire departments across Canada are responding to more battery fires than ever before. Damaged, defective or improperly used batteries can overheat and fail, causing fast-moving fires that produce intense heat and toxic smoke.

This year's Fire Prevention Week campaign focuses on three simple actions residents can take to help keep themselves, their families and their homes safe:

Buy safe by purchasing batteries, chargers and battery-powered devices from reputable manufacturers and retailers, and ensuring products carry recognized safety certifications.

Charge safe by using manufacturer-approved charging equipment, charging batteries on hard surfaces away from combustible materials and avoiding overnight charging.

Use safe by watching for warning signs such as overheating, swelling, unusual odours or hissing noises, damage or smoke, and stopping use immediately if concerns arise.

Working smoke and CO alarms save lives

While preventing fires is the goal, Burlington Fire is also reminding residents that working smoke alarms remain one of the most important life-saving tools in any home.

Lithium-ion battery fires can spread quickly and produce dense smoke, making early detection critical.

Every home should have:

• Working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas
• Smoke alarms that are tested regularly, and replaced every 10 years
• A home escape plan that everyone knows and practices

As well, as of 2026, all homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages must have carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of their home and near all sleeping areas.

Dispose of batteries safely

Rechargeable (lithium-ion) batteries should never be placed in the garbage or regular recycling. These batteries can be damaged during collection and processing, creating a fire risk for workers, waste facilities and collection vehicles. For information regarding proper disposal of batteries, visit Halton Region’s Recycling and Waste Sorting Tool.

Residents can learn more about battery safety, warning signs, charging best practices and proper battery disposal at burlington.ca/batterysafety.

Residents can stay connected with Burlington Fire by subscribing to the Fire and Life Safety newsfeed and following Burlington Fire on X (@BurlingtonFire), Instagram (@burlfiredept) and Facebook for the latest safety information, updates and tips.

Links and Resources

burlington.ca/batterysafety

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