Latest news with #fireSafety
ABC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Building Commission NSW fails to seek fines for developers that lag on defect orders
Thomas Luxton has been forced to launch his own legal action against the developer of his Sydney apartment building after it ignored the regulator's order to fix serious fire safety issues. The developer behind the Rockdale property was referred to the Building Commission NSW's legal enforcement team in March 2024 for non-compliance. Mr Luxton waited months for the commission to commence proceedings against the developer, Knightsbridge Development Group, to seek a hefty fine and grew frustrated when no further action was taken. He described the regulator's defect order as being "about as useful as a sunroof on a submarine". The ABC can reveal that not a single developer that failed to comply with a defect order issued by the commission, known as a building work rectification order (BWRO), has received a fine. BWROs outline serious potential or actual defects in residential apartment buildings, such as structural cracking and waterproofing failures. At least 60 per cent of the 208 rectification orders issued by the commission under the Residential Apartment Buildings Act — which was introduced in 2020 amid a well-publicised crackdown on shonky building work — have not been fully complied with. Non-compliance is a criminal offence, and the regulator can take a developer or builder to court to seek fines of up to $110,000 for individuals or $330,000 for corporations. However, the first time Building Commission NSW prosecuted a developer or builder was last month, and it has not secured any court-imposed fines. A spokesperson for the commission said 40 per cent of its orders had been "fully complied with or revoked", others were being modified, and several were on hold as they were being disputed in court. In Mr Luxton's case, inspectors found the fire stair pressurisation system was faulty, which "may prevent the safe evacuation of residents" during a fire and cause flames to spread "in an uncontrolled manner". In November, he launched his own proceedings against the developer at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on behalf of owners, seeking costs for the repair work. A spokesperson for Knightsbridge Development Group said it was "working on a solution with body corporate to have the issue resolved", noting the builder had gone into liquidation. Internal sources at Building Commission NSW say there is a lack of appetite for legal action within management and dysfunction and staffing issues in the legal team. The regulator has wide-ranging enforcement powers and a mandate to restore trust in the industry to avoid another Mascot or Opal Towers. A spokesperson for Building Commission NSW said its "primary approach" was to work "constructively with the developer, builder, and owner's corporations to ensure defects are rectified at no cost to homeowners, without the need for legal action", but said it would prosecute if needed. It is "currently assessing all non-compliant BWROs for further potential regulatory action, including prosecution, licence cancellations and suspensions", the spokesperson said. The ABC has seen documents obtained under Freedom of Information that reveal the agency previously had an internal list of 42 developers recommended for potential prosecution over non-compliance with an order. It took the regulator almost a month to respond to the ABC's questions. Earlier this year the ABC also revealed the agency had handed out thousands of tradie licences without running a criminal history check, as it had failed to secure a memorandum of understanding with NSW Police for information sharing. The regulator also took more than 16 months to deliver authorisation badges to staff who were legally required to identify themselves on worksites, which some feared might undermine investigations. The delay stemmed from a long-running branding dispute over whether the new agency should be called the NSW Building Commission or Building Commission NSW.
CBC
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
E-bike battery fires: Some tips to help buyers avoid getting burned
Social Sharing With Toronto's fire department sounding the alarm about lithium-ion battery fires, the owners of two London-area e-bike shops say a bit of consumer education goes a long way. From 2022 to 2024, the number of fires linked to the rechargeable batteries in Toronto jumped 162 per cent, from 29 to 76. Many of those fires are linked to e-bikes powered by lithium-ion batteries, though the batteries also power scooters and other devices. Matt Long, who's been selling battery-powered bikes at his store E-Ride London for 15 years, said bikes bought online often don't have the same safety certifications as bikes purchased at a shop. "The biggest thing is buying the cheaper bikes," he said. "They're cheaper for a reason. They're cheaping out on unstable lithium-ion battery cells." Long said buyers should be looking for "UL" certification on bikes they buy, which stands for Universal Laboratories and indicates a safety standard recognized in the U.S. and Canada. Long said bikes at his shop are made by Canadian companies, such as Taubik, Velec and Envo, which all have UL certification. Long said UL 2849 certification indicates that the bike's battery and electrical system have been tested. Other UL certifications are limited to the battery alone. What to know about risks around lithium-ion batteries as reports rise in battery-related fires 2 days ago Duration 2:22 While he can't comment on every bike available on the market, Long said he would view with some suspicion any e-bike that's only available direct-to-consumer through an online vendor. He also recommends buyers be leery of any e-bike with a price tag in the $1,000 range or less. "If you buy from a store, you get some support and quality batteries, and you can speak to a human if you have a problem," he said. "Most of the better companies are dealer-based and they don't ship to the customer." Long said he'd like to see tougher regulations on bikes that are imported for sale in Canada. Joe Haskett owns Junior's e-Bikes in St. Thomas, a store that sells e-bikes and mobility scooters powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. He agrees that cheaper, imported e-bikes and scooters are part of the battery fire problem, and says bike owners need to read and follow instructions about how to safely charge and store their battery. "There should be no problem if they properly follow the guidelines about how to maintain a battery," he said. Haskett said safety tips include never charging a battery that's damaged or hot from recent use, and batteries should be unplugged once charging is complete. Haskett's store also sells special fire-proof blankets to wrap batteries when they're not in use. He said this is helpful in cases where there isn't a garage or balcony to store the bike away from flammable material such as carpets and furniture. London fire department gets special gear London Deputy Fire Chief Matt Hepditch said London firefighters have responded to lithium-ion battery fires, but not on the same scale as what's happening in Toronto. "The issues that we see are perhaps people that are buying after-market batteries and not the batteries built by the actual manufacturer," said Hepditch. It's important that batteries are not modified and are the correct batteries for the bike being used, he said. He said lithium-ion batteries can go into a dangerous state called "thermal runaway." This happens when the battery's cells heat up and transfer that heat to adjacent cells, one after the other, until the entire battery bursts into flames. When this happens, Hepditch said the resulting fire can be difficult to extinguish. "The fire just grows in intensity and it's not going out until the power source is drained," he said. "It's a very intense fire and it can spread very quickly." London's fire department is testing special equipment to deal with battery fires, including sand-filled containers used to hold batteries that become overheated. "I also know that the battery industry is making improvements to make them safer, they're working on the issue," he said.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Disposable barbecue caused large Croft Hill grassland fire
A discarded disposable barbecue was believed to be the cause of a large grassland fire in Leicestershire, a fire investigation crews worked through the night to bring the wildfire under control at Croft Hill at about 20:15 BST on 3 Fire and Rescue Service said an area of about 2,000 sq m had been destroyed and urged people to "remain vigilant and practice fire safety" outdoors during warm and dry fire service added: "With further nice weather expected, we understand the temptation to enjoy cooked food outdoors, but please consider packing a picnic instead."
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Every second counts: Augmented reality tool helps train Canadians for home fire emergencies
Kidde's Cause For Alarm 'Prepare. Plan. Practice.', a first-of-its-kind digital simulator, brings fire safety training into the home — no downloads required. The following joint news release has been issued on behalf of Kidde, the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, and the Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE). TORONTO, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home fires now burn with alarming speed, up to 8 times faster than 50 years ago¹, yet many Canadians are unprepared to react quickly enough. Almost 7 out 10 Canadians (69%) believe they have more time to escape than what fire experts say is the reality: 2 minutes or less. This dangerous misconception means many won't be ready for a fire at home, and when every second counts, being prepared with working smoke alarms and an escape plan could be the difference between life and death. Kidde, a trusted leader in fire safety for more than 100 years, is expanding its annual Cause For Alarm™ campaign, a global fire safety education initiative, with the launch of Prepare. Plan. Practice., a free tool that uses augmented reality (AR) technology to bring fire safety to life. It offers a first-of-its-kind at-home digital fire drill simulator that helps users build essential skills, improve awareness and learn how to react quickly in a home fire emergency. 'By leveraging cutting-edge AR technology, this tool makes essential fire safety education more accessible, engaging, and actionable,' explains Ivanette Bonilla, Kidde's Chief Communications and Government Relations Officer. 'Children may participate in up to 10 fire drills at school each year, but few families practice fire safety at home where fires are more likely to happen — underscoring the need to bring this experience into households to help families prepare together.' Prepare. Plan. Practice. is accessible to anyone through any smartphone or tablet browser, with no downloads, purchases or apps required. This gives Canadians a safe, yet realistic way to experience a home fire, learn room-by-room safety tips and practice an escape in real time against a 2-minute countdown. The experience features the following modes: Demonstration Mode kicks off the journey, using AR technology to simulate what a fire would look like in the user's own room. This dramatization shows how quickly a fire can grow and spread in just two minutes. Learn Mode lets users explore a digital home and click through fire hazards, smoke alarm tips, carbon monoxide safety and more. Practice Mode guides users through creating a personalized escape plan, then simulates a fire with sound effects and a live 2-minute timer. There's even a 'Kid Mode' for families with younger children, offering a less intense but equally educational version of the simulation. The tool also features a Safety Hub; upon users completing their experience, they are directed to this central resource hub that provides links to additional fire safety information, printable checklists, escape plan templates and other educational materials. This tool was developed in consultation and collaboration with leading Canadian and international fire safety organizations who play a critical role in ensuring its accuracy, relevance and alignment with the fire safety needs of Canadians. Prepare. Plan. Practice. has the support of these organizations, including: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE) 'It's crucial that we continue to evolve the way we educate and prepare people for emergencies. Prepare. Plan. Practice. serves as a powerful example of how technology can be leveraged to help make life-saving fire safety knowledge more engaging, accessible, and actionable for today's families,' says Laura King, Canadian Director, National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®). 'We're proud to see messaging from NFPA's Educational Messaging Advisory Committee Desk Reference — the global resource for public education messaging — incorporated into innovative solutions that help advance public safety.' 'At the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, one of our goals has always been to make fire and life safety education widely accessible,' says Jamie Kovacs, Executive Director at the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council. 'This invaluable new tool supports that mission by engaging families directly in their homes. It's a powerful way to reinforce what kids learn at school and help close the gap in fire preparedness at home.' Visit to access the free tool and take a critical step toward protecting yourself and your loved ones. You'll also find a full suite of fire safety resources which include a children's book titled Safety Saves the Day!, a children's fire safety song, 'Beeps that Last Get Out Fast', and Kidde's Fire Safety Toolkit, which is available in seven different languages. Sources: ¹ FSRI, Comparison of Natural and Synthetic Home Furnishings, ² Study commissioned by Kidde, facilitated by Maru Blue September 2024 ³ Statistics Canada. 'Incident-based fire statistics, by type of fire incident and type of structure,' 2017 to 2021. ⁴ Statistics Canada. 'Unintentional fire-related deaths in Canada.' 2011 to 2020. About Kidde Kidde, a leading manufacturer of residential smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and safety accessories, has been keeping the world a safer place for over 100 years. Kidde produced the first integrated smoke detection system a century ago and continues its legacy today by delivering advanced fire-safety technology. Kidde is a part of Kidde Global Solutions, a global leader in fire and life safety solutions. For more information, visit or follow @KiddeCanada on Facebook and Instagram. About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at About the FMPFSC The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) is a registered charity organization in Ontario dedicated to promoting fire prevention and public education across the province. Established in 1993, the Council collaborates with fire departments, community organizations, and private sector partners to enhance fire safety awareness and training initiatives. About the OAFE The Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE) is a professional organization dedicated to supporting fire and life safety educators across the province. OAFE develops and delivers effective public education resources, advocates for fire safety awareness, and fosters professional growth through training, collaboration, and a strong provincial network. For more information about: Cause For Alarm, visit NFPA, visit FMPFSC, visit OAFE, visit Media Contact: Stephanie Berzinski A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Officials urge proper lithium-ion battery use after 'concerning rise' in fires
Toronto Fire has launched a second public safety campaign to raise awareness about the growing fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. In 2024, firefighters responded to 76 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, a 38% increase from 2023 (55 fires) and a 162% increase compared to 2022 (29 fires). This year, Toronto Fire has already responded to 43 blazes caused by lithium-ion batteries, one of which was a significant high-rise fire with multiple injuries to both occupants and first responders. During the subsequent fire investigation, a large quantity of lithium-ion batteries were discovered within the affected unit and determined to have significantly contributed to the fire's growth and the amount of smoke that had spread throughout the building. 'We're seeing a concerning rise in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, many of which are preventable,' said Toronto Fire general manager Chief Jim Jessop in a statement. 'This campaign is about giving residents the knowledge they need to stay safe. Fire prevention is a shared responsibility (and) together we can protect our homes, neighbours and our city. Toronto Fire Services will continue to advocate for the necessary regulatory changes to reduce this public fire safety risk in our city.' TTC board postpones vote on proposed e-bike ban during winter Canada Post worker helps save woman from fiery Tesla crash Lithium-ion batteries power many everyday devices, including smartphones, laptops, e-bikes and toys, and are generally safe, but can become dangerous if damaged, tampered with or improperly charged. Many of the recent fires were caused by attempts to modify or extend the life of the batteries. — Keep the lithium-ion battery in sight while charging; — Never tamper with or modify a battery; — Only use certified, manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers; — Stop using a lithium-ion battery and contact the manufacturer if there are any of the following problem signs: Strange odours, discolouration, excessive heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises.
