Maple Express | August 12, 2026 Third battery fire in Toronto in 24 hours, fire chief urges regulation

1. Third lithium-ion battery fire in Toronto in 24 hours; fire chief urges regulation

A fire broke out at a downtown Toronto apartment building shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday, injuring three people. The unit where the blaze started contained as many as 10 e-bikes and mobile devices, and Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop confirmed the fire involved lithium-ion batteries. One person suffered burns and two others were treated for smoke inhalation.

Jessop said it was the third lithium-ion battery fire in Toronto in 24 hours, following a blaze in Etobicoke and another that destroyed a home in Scarborough on Tuesday. He noted battery-related fires have surged more than 200 per cent in recent years.

Calling the fires the "greatest evolving fire safety risk" facing Canada's largest city, Jessop urged the federal government and Ontario's Fire Marshal's Office to work with the city on amendments to the fire code and standards for batteries sold in Canada.

2. Hamilton man, 21, stabbed to death; suspect, 26, charged with second-degree murder

Hamilton police confirmed Wednesday that a suspect has been arrested in the weekend stabbing death of 21-year-old Zenin Roussel. Kyle Dumont-McArthur, 26, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder.

Police said Roussel was outside a billiard and sports bar on King Street West around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 9 when he got into a verbal altercation with a man. The two left separately in opposite directions, but crossed paths again near Main and Frid streets about 10 minutes later, where Roussel was stabbed.

He was found by a taxi driver and rushed to hospital but died of his injuries. Investigators say four people witnessed the stabbing and all have been spoken to, though the weapon has not been recovered.

3. Heavy rain, thunderstorms possible in Toronto today

Toronto could see thunderstorms roll through the city today, with the most active weather expected this afternoon and evening. Environment Canada is calling for a high of 24 C, feeling closer to 29 with humidity.

There is a 40 per cent chance of showers this afternoon with a risk of thunderstorms. CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter says the best chance of active weather is between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., with the potential for heavy downpours, gusty winds and frequent lightning. The storms are expected to move southeast toward Niagara Region later today.

Cloudy conditions should clear Thursday, bringing sunshine and a high of 28 C. Friday may see brief light showers, with sunshine returning Saturday.

4. Eight-vehicle collision in Georgina, Ont. downs traffic light

An eight-vehicle collision in Georgina, Ont., slowed rush-hour traffic Wednesday morning. York Regional Police said the crash happened shortly before 9 a.m. near Morton and Woodbine avenues.

The circumstances surrounding the collision are not yet known, and police have not said whether anyone was injured. Chopper 24 footage showed a downed traffic light resting on top of a sedan.

The intersection was fully closed, but shortly before 11:30 a.m. police said one lane had reopened in each direction as cleanup and traffic light repairs continued.

5. Mixed reaction to Brad Bradford's bike lane removal plan

Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford is pledging to remove the bike lanes from South Kingsway to Resurrection Road — a proposal he supported three years ago.

CP24's Courtney Heels reports that reaction to the plan has been mixed. Supporters argue removing the lanes could ease traffic congestion, while opponents warn it would undermine road safety and active transportation options.

The issue is expected to become a talking point in the mayoral campaign.

6. Motorcyclist seriously injured in Mississauga collision

A motorcyclist is in hospital after colliding with a van in Mississauga on Tuesday night. Peel police said they were called around 8:30 p.m. to a collision near Morning Star Drive and Airport Road, north of Derry Road.

Peel paramedics said the motorcyclist, a young adult male, was taken to a trauma centre with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The van's driver suffered minor injuries.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

7. Man, 12-year-old boy from U.S. critically injured in Highway 403 crash

A 12-year-old boy and a 43-year-old man from the United States were critically injured in a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 403 in Mississauga. Ontario Provincial Police said two vehicles collided in the westbound lanes near Mavis Road just before 5 p.m.

The drivers moved their vehicles to the right shoulder and got out to exchange information. A short time later, a third vehicle struck one of the cars, pushing it into a driver and a child passenger standing outside.

Paramedics said the man and boy suffered life-threatening injuries and were taken to trauma centres; a third person had non-life-threatening injuries. The westbound lanes between Mavis Road and Erin Mills Parkway were closed until about 10:30 p.m.

8. Ontario cabinet minister calls for all-out ban on AI deepfakes

Ontario cabinet minister Stephen Crawford is calling on the federal government to enact "an all-out ban on AI deepfakes and impersonations." The Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement wrote an open letter Tuesday urging steep fines and jail time for anyone who uses AI tools to scam or harm Canadians.

The call follows reports of an Ontario woman who lost $900,000 after seeing a deepfake video of Prime Minister Mark Carney promoting a fake cryptocurrency platform, and another who lost $83,000 to a similar scam.

Crawford said AI represents one of Ontario's most significant economic opportunities, but that governments must put strong safeguards in place. Because criminal law falls under federal jurisdiction, he urged Ottawa to act.

9. Trump's vaccine overhaul is 'going to impact Canada,' experts warn

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday calling for changes to childhood vaccination schedules, including replacing the combined MMR shot with separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Experts warn the move could make the information environment around immunization even more confusing for Canadians.

Timothy Caulfield of the University of Alberta's Health Law Institute called the move a "disaster" with no scientific basis. He said separating vaccines into multiple appointments would create more barriers and could increase vaccine hesitancy.

Caulfield stressed that vaccine misinformation does not stop at borders. Canada already lost its measles elimination status in November 2025 amid a resurgence of the disease.

10. B.C. winemakers and ranchers flee wildfires, facing uncertain future

Wildfires ripping through British Columbia's wine country have ruined grapes, spoiled fruit on trees and stranded cattle as farmers and workers evacuate. The Bald Range wildfire has forced more than 20,000 people from their homes in the Okanagan Valley, one of Canada's premier wine regions.

Ron Kubek, owner of Lightning Rock Winery, said smoke taint has made this year's Pinot Noir and other grapes worthless, and he still must pay to harvest and dispose of them. He urged consumers to buy a bottle of Okanagan wine instead of imported wine.

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said about 50,000 animals are in areas under evacuation orders, as cowboys work to drive cattle to safety from the flames.