- Four people died and two were seriously injured when a number of lithium-ion batteries caught fire early Tuesday morning, according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), in a series of deadly fires in New York City. The latest.
- FDNY told the Daily Caller News Foundation that there have been 108 lithium-ion battery fires in the city so far, injuring 66 and killing 13, the highest death toll for this time of year last year. There were only two, but more are on the rise.
- FDNY Fire Chief Laura Kavanagh said in a statement: “Today we want to emphasize what we have said many times: The amount of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries is incredibly lethal. ‘ said.
Four people were killed in a fire at a New York City e-bike store near midnight Tuesday, according to the New York City Fire Department. The blaze follows a spate of lithium-ion battery-related explosions and fires in the city, the most recent (FDNY) Tuesday, according to the New York City Fire Department.
According to a series of reports by FDNY, the fire broke out at the electric bicycle repair headquarters on the first floor of the six-story building and spread to the apartment above, injuring two people seriously and one firefighter slightly injured. . statement published on Twitter. FDNY Fire Chief Laura Kavanagh stood in front of what appeared to be dozens of burned scooters and e-bikes and said it was “very clear” that the fires were linked to lithium-ion batteries. It warned New Yorkers that such devices are dangerous. It is extremely dangerous, and rather than igniting slowly, it typically explodes in such a way that escape becomes impossible. (Related: Report: NYPD Chief Keecchant Sewell suddenly resigns)
“Today, I really want to emphasize what we have been saying many times: there are huge and important regulations that we have been implementing in collaboration with the City Council and the Mayor’s Office, but how It’s also very, very important to let people know you don’t believe it, ‘this is dangerous,’ Kavanagh said. “There’s an e-bike shop on the ground floor, and a residence above it, and the amount of fire caused by lithium-ion batteries is incredibly lethal.”
June 20, 2023 – A pile of burnt bicycles and scooters lie abandoned outside the e-bike repair headquarters in Chinatown, New York City. A fire spread to the upper floors of an apartment building, killing four people and injuring two others. (FDNY/Twitter)
FDNY told the Daily Caller News Foundation that there have been 108 lithium-ion battery fires in the city so far this year, injuring 66 people and killing 13. The figures represent a significant increase overall from the same period last year, when 98 fires injured 40 people and killed two.
Kavanagh went on to point out that in the past, the department had “written violations” and “enforced crackdowns” on e-bike shops in Chinatown. The store was fined $1,600 after an August inspection for multiple safety violations related to unsafe battery charging, battery count, and the electrical system throughout the store. according to to AP.
Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn said a recent inspection found it was a violation to store excess batteries in the store, even though they weren’t charging. Said Local outlet ABC7 New York. A man who identified himself as the owner, who did not disclose anything other than his last name, Liu, told the Associated Press that he left the battery uncharged overnight while out and about.
“My friend came in and yelled, ‘There’s a fire next door,'” said neighbor Belal Araya, who witnessed the fire. according to To local news station ABC7. “When I went outside, I saw flames hot enough to pass through the metal gates. .”
Kavanagh praised the work of firefighters and paramedics, saying he “quickly” rescued six people who were seriously injured, but four others later died. She warned that the “huge amount” of lithium-ion battery fires made it “nearly impossible” to escape in time.
Deputy Chief John Salocco told ABC7 the crew arrived in “only about four minutes.”
FDNY is caveat Twitter to New Yorkers: keep devices with lithium-ion batteries away from exits and windows, avoid using batteries without “approved safety certification,” avoid charging at night or when batteries are not present, Advised the public not to use damaged batteries or batteries after use. -Batteries on the market.
“We know micro-mobility devices are in your home,” the official said. “Please stop working and perform a simple safety check.”
E-Bike Repair headquarters did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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