A deadly Crown Heights fire was caused by two exploding lithium-ion batteries, FDNY commissioner Laura Kavanagh announced on Monday.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
A devastating fire that killed three family members in Crown Heights on Sunday was caused by an e-bike battery, according to FDNY commissioner Laura Kavanagh.
The fast-moving fire started in the basement at 242 Albany Ave. just after 4 a.m. on Nov. 12 and quickly engulfed the building. Firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes of receiving the call, but were unable to rescue 81-year-old Abertha West, 58-year-old Michael West, and 33-year-old Jamiyl West. The blaze also injured 14 people, including one firefighter.
At a press conference on Nov. 13, Kavanagh said FDNY fire marshals were quickly able to nail down the cause of the fire and described the deceased as “three generations of one family who were an integral part of this community.”
A ‘staggering and devastating’ number of deaths have been caused by e-bike batteries this year
So far this year, 17 people have died in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries alone, Kavanagh said.
“This number is staggering and is devastating, and it underlies a problem that we have been sounding the alarm on for some time.”
New York City has seen 93 fire-related deaths in 2023 alone, according to the commish, and is on track to see 100 fire deaths before the end of the year.
“That is an extraordinary number not seen in decades,” she said.
Lithium-ion batteries — especially when they are not stored properly, or are charged with the wrong cables and equipment – are prone to exploding, causing fast-moving, hard-to-contain fires.
“These don’t smolder, which is where a smoke detector would typically give you early warning … they explode,” Kavanagh said. “And the second they explode there may be so much fire at that moment, you can’t get out.”
Assistant Chief of Department John Hodges said firefighters on…
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