Lithium-ion battery fires are a significant and growing public safety concern, due to the proliferation of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries in products such as phones, laptops, e-bikes, electric vehicles and more. Batteries today store much more energy in smaller packages, so more volatile energy is released when they malfunction. If a cell becomes damaged, overheated or improperly charged, an uncontrolled chain reaction called a thermal runaway can occur. The cell heats up quickly and releases hazardous gases, including hydrogen fluoride (HF). This poses a threat to fire fighters and first responders that has gone unaddressed.
Between 2013 and 2025, Health Canada received 1,260 reports of lithium-ion battery incidents through its Consumer Product Safety Program — nearly 29% of which involved injuries, and three of which were fatal. Over that same period, 87 product recalls were issued in Canada, affecting more than 980,000 units — and Health Canada notes these figures likely underestimate the true scope. According to the Canadian government, “These figures reflect only reported cases and likely underestimate the true scale of the issue in Canada, underscoring the growing safety risks posed by lithium-ion battery failures.”
Municipal fire departments are a source of battery fire data, and according to the National Observer, these incidents skyrocketed by 591% between 2020 and 2024 in Toronto. Toronto Fire Services recorded 29 fires in 2022, which nearly doubled by 2023, and reached 91 by 2025. In Montreal, the Fire Department tracked a 195% increase in battery fires between 2022 and 2024, yielding 71 annual emergencies, triple the number in 2022.
As the use of Li-ion batteries accelerates, so too will the urgency to reliably identify battery failure as early as possible. Since HF may be released before visible flames develop, it is a valuable, early-warning indicator of battery failure.
Luckily, new technology now makes it possible to detect Li-ion battery failures before the situation escalates. The team at Visiontec is pleased to introduce the TR10-H Warden, a new chemical threat detection system.
The TR10-H Warden does more than detect Hydrogen Fluoride. It is a portable early-warning detection platform that engineered specifically for presaging Li-ion battery failures and thermal runaway events. Using a sensor and remote sampling probe, the system allows first responders to assess hazards from a safe distance.
The Warden is also available without dedicated HF detection. It is a universal multi-threat detection platform engineered for rapid deployment in hazardous operational environments. It is reliable, lightweight and provides critical situational awareness for industrial safety and emergency response teams through high-precision integrated gas and radiation monitoring.
Both versions of this product are designed, built and supported in Canada by Scentroid Inc, a Canadian dual-use, multimodal AI sensor fusion company that develops state-of-the-art gas detection, identification, and modelling products. Scentroid’s work various industries spanning defence, emergency response, public safety, critical infrastructure protection, air quality monitoring, and GHG emissions management.
When it comes to the safety of our emergency responders, early detection makes all the difference. To learn more about how this game-changing detection solution can improve your Li-ion battery monitoring and response capabilities, visit our website or speak with your sales representative.