Toronto firefighters report they have responded to 97 lithium-ion battery incidents so far in 2026, surpassing the city’s previous annual total. Officials say the number is higher than last year’s 91 lithium-ion fires, and they describe the trend as worsening.
The Toronto Sun reports that two additional blazes over a weekend bring the total to 97 after September, reinforcing that the city sets a new annual record for these incidents. City News Toronto adds longer-term context, saying the totals have risen substantially compared with earlier years, including 71 fires in 2025, 76 the year before, and 29 in 2022. Outlets also note the fire service has been warning about the hazards and fire risk associated with lithium-ion batteries. While the outlets emphasize slightly different timing details—some focusing on the month of September and others on the year-to-date count—they all cite the same overall figure and the fact that Toronto has exceeded past totals.
