The FDNY says two large fires in 48 hours were caused by what has become a common culprit: lithium-ion batteries. 

The most recent fire happened on a barge near a scrapyard in Long Island City Tuesday night. According to the FDNY, a discarded lithium-ion battery caught fire and the flames quickly spread.

What You Need To Know

  • The FDNY says two large fires in 48 hours were caused by what has become a common culprit: lithium-ion batteries

  • According to the FDNY, it took more than 160 first responders three hours to get a four-alarm blaze in Brooklyn under control Monday night

  • Meanwhile, officials say a discarded lithium-ion battery caught fire and quickly spread on a barge in the Newtown Creek near Long Island City Tuesday night

“The barge fire took more than four hours to extinguish, with toxic smoke spreading to surrounding neighborhoods as we worked to contain it,” Chief Fire Marshall Daniel Flynn said at a press conference Thursday.

And on Monday night, an apartment building in Brownsville went up in flames, with the fire tearing through four neighboring homes. The FDNY said it took more than 160 first responders three hours to get the four-alarm blaze under control. Investigators say a charred, stand-up electric scooter was discovered on the top floor.

“Its placement here allowed the fire to rapidly spread throughout the building and obstructed the staircase. We are lucky no one was killed or seriously injured in this fire, but it was devastating nonetheless. One single battery took out five homes,” Flynn said.

Officials say six firefighters and three residents were injured in that blaze, and 31 residents were displaced.

FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said there have been 171 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries so far this year — the same amount as this time last year. However, fatalities are down, with three so far this year compared to 14 this time last year.

“One life lost is too many,” Tucker said. “We need to strive to keep our friends and neighbors safe. We are all in this together.”

The FDNY is urging New Yorkers not to charge e-bikes or e-scooters near doors, windows or fire escapes and instead, charge and store those devices outside. Officials encourage owners of these micro-mobility devices to log on to FDNYSmart.org for more information.