NEW YORK — New York City fire officials are investigating whether an e-bike caused a fire in Brooklyn that injured four people and severely damaged a building.
Firefighters recovered the e-bike with a lithium-ion battery from a burning building in Midwood on Thursday morning, but it was not immediately clear what started the fire, an FDNY official said.
More than 100 lithium-ion battery fires in 2024, FDNY says
The e-bike was found at the bottom of a staircase to an apartment in the building on Avenue M.
CBS New York
“It was in the hallway, which led to the problem with evacuating the victims,” said FDNY’s Brian Gorman.
Lithium-ion battery is lit have caused 46 injuries and one death in 2024, according to FDNY statistics. Firefighters have opened 107 investigations into lithium-ion battery fires so far this year.
‘The extent of the damage is significant’
Thursday’s fire quickly escalated to two alarms when more than 100 fire and emergency personnel arrived on the scene around 6:30 a.m.
“The extent of the damage is significant,” Gorman said.
Two apartments and two businesses in the building were damaged and windows were shattered.
“We went to work and it was worse than the news,” said Crystal Elliot, who works nearby. “To see it in person, it’s bad.”
Four people hospitalized
Officials said four people were injured in the fire and hospitalized, including one person who suffered breathing problems and burns and was in critical condition.
“It’s really bad. We’ve been working here for a long time, so it’s very shocking to see this. A lot of people don’t have homes,” said Elliot.
The Red Cross was on site to assist displaced families.
