Family members spanning three generations perished in a deadly fire caused by exploding lithium-ion batteries in the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. In the early hours of Sunday, November 14, 2023, batteries commonly used in electric food-delivery scooters sparked a row house blaze that killed Albertha West, the matriarch of a large family. The fire also killed her son Michael and grandson Jamiyl.
Circumstances of the Brooklyn Blaze
On a quiet residential street in Crown Heights, a brownstone row house stands gutted after flames swept through the building. Although firefighters responded within four minutes, smoke and fire was already pouring out of windows and doorways when they arrived.
In addition to the deaths of Albertha West and her family members, the fire also critically injured one of the firefighters who responded on Sunday.
As New York City Fire Department (FDNY) investigators piece together what caused the Sunday morning fire, evidence collected at the scene points to off-market lithium-ion batteries that ruptured or exploded, leading to a rapid spread of the blaze. Many of these batteries are used in e-bikes, scooters, and mobility devices used by the delivery industry, including major players in retail and food service companies.
Similarities to a Chinatown Fire
Occurring just before midnight on June 19, 2023, New York City residents were awoken by a fast-moving fire. This fire was ignited when e-bike batteries located in the HQ E-Bike Repair shop exploded. The business, on the ground floor of a six-story building in Chinatown, had been cited for safety violations in the summer of 2022.
Once the lithium-ion batteries exploded, fire quickly spread to the apartment units in the upper stories of the building. Two men and two women perished in the flames, and two other women were hospitalized with critical injuries. One firefighter was injured and was treated at the scene.
Why are Lithium Batteries Causing So Many Fires?
Lithium-ion batteries can be risky due to thermal runaway, a process where overheating can cause a dangerous chain reaction. This happens when overcharging, puncturing, or extreme heat compromises the battery’s outer casing. The electrolytes contained inside the battery are flammable and can leak if the battery is damaged; leaks may lead to spontaneous combustion and flames that spread rapidly through residential and retail units. Also, charging issues can lead to metallic lithium plating that could cause short circuits. Finally, failure in the battery’s safety management systems can lead to unsafe conditions.
Even with common safety measures in place, improper handling or negligence can make these batteries dangerous. And, with the rise in lithium-ion batteries originating from foreign suppliers, batteries made to lower standards with fewer safety features can result in fires that injure or kill innocent people.
Alarming Fire Statistics
The Crown Heights blaze was a harsh reminder of the dangers caused by faulty or off-market lithium batteries. 2023 has proven to be a deadly year for New York City residents in terms of devastating fires. So far this year, 93 people have been killed, 17 of these deaths were caused by lithium battery fires
Sunday’s blaze marked the 238th fire caused by lithium batteries in the New York City metro area in 2023. Fire officials, including FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, say that retailers and restaurants need to step up by better regulating the types of batteries sold to consumers and to protect delivery drivers and innocent victims from the property damage, injuries, and deaths associated with exploding lithium batteries.
