On Friday morning (24th), a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery broke out in Flushing. When the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) arrived at the scene, the fire hydrant was frozen due to the low temperature at the time, making it impossible to access water and causing a delay in the rescue operation.
At 5:30 am on Friday morning, a fire occurred at a row house located at 142-33 60th Avenue in Flushing. When firefighters arrived, they found the blaze had engulfed the ground floor of the building. However, due to the fire hydrant in front of the house being frozen, they had to search for a hydrant further away to access water, leading to a delay in the rescue process.
According to the New York City Fire Department, two people at the scene were seriously injured but not in life-threatening condition, while two others sustained minor injuries. About 12 fire and rescue teams, totaling 60 personnel, were deployed to participate in the rescue operation.
After the fire was extinguished, the Fire Department discovered at least six electric bicycles, over 20 lithium batteries, as well as parts and tools in the basement at the scene, indicating that electrical bicycle maintenance may have been carried out there regularly.
Christopher Paolicelli, the commander of the FDNY’s 14th division, stated that the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery.
The incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and the importance of proper handling and maintenance to prevent such accidents in the future. The FDNY continues to investigate the exact cause of the fire and is reminding the public to be cautious when dealing with batteries and electronic devices to prevent similar incidents from occurring.