On Monday afternoon, March 11, a fast-moving fire in a multi-story building in New York City’s Marble Hill neighborhood injured at least four civilians and six firefighters, according to the FDNY. The fire started under the ground-floor stairwell and quickly spread to the roof of the four-story apartment building.
According to FDNY Chief Malcom Moore, who was at the scene, several e-bikes were being stored where the fire started. Residents were trapped in their homes just before 2 p.m. as black smoke and flames billowed from the building located at 36 Marble Hill Avenue West 225 th Street.
“These old-style buildings with the wooden staircase, you get a decent amount of fire going, a nice fire load, and it shoots right up,” said the chief. Over 30 units and nearly 140 fire personnel responded to the scene of the three-alarm fire. The Department of Buildings issued a full Vacate Order after inspectors discovered severe fire damage to the structure, including structural damage to the first-floor stairs, charred interior walls, missing windows, and a partially collapsed roof.
The Red Cross is supporting displaced people, consisting of 25 adults, six children, and six pets.
Lithium-ion Batteries the Cause of Multiple Fires in NYC
According to the FDNY, e-bikes powered by lithium-ion batteries caused 267 fires in New York City in 2023, killing 18 people and injuring 150. In fact, during the last three years, lithium-ion battery fires have surpassed electrical fires as the primary cause of fatal fires in New York City, exceeding blazes caused by cooking and smoking.
How do Lithium-ion Batteries Start Fires?
Thermal runaway, a phenomenon in which overheating generates a catastrophic chain reaction, is a severe risk when using lithium-ion batteries. Overcharging, puncturing, and overheating can all harm the battery's external shell. The electrolytes in the battery are flammable and can leak if the battery fails. Leaks can cause spontaneous combustion, and flames can quickly spread across residential and commercial buildings. Furthermore, charging issues may result in lithium plating, which causes short circuits.
The Spike in Lithium-ion Battery Fires
The Institute for Energy Research (IER) attributed the increased number of lithium-ion battery-related fires to several variables. These include a lack of regulation and safety testing for independently owned devices, unsafe charging practices (such as using mismatched equipment or overcharging), and a scarcity of secure charging spaces in a densely populated metropolis like New York City, which has many apartment buildings and multi-family structures, where the majority of fires start.
Even with basic safety safeguards, incorrect handling or ignorance can endanger these batteries. Moreover, with the increase in lithium-ion batteries purchased from overseas vendors, batteries built to lower standards and with fewer safety precautions can create fires that injure or even kill people.
