Buying a cheap charger or keeping your cellphone plugged in while on your bed could lead to mortal danger, the city’s fire department warned Monday.

Lithium-ion-related fires are the focus of this year’s fire prevention week in Quebec. On Monday, representatives of 16 area fire departments met the media to highlight the risks, which led to 13 deaths in recent years in New York City.

“We don’t want what happened in New York to happen here,” said assistant fire chief Chantal Bibeau , who heads up the Montreal Fire Department’s inspections and prevention department.

Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in Montreal have nearly tripled, up to 71 last year from 24 in 2022. While still relatively few in proportion to the more than 1,500 calls for buildings on fire, the increase is alarming, B

See Full Page