A Bronx Fire Was Caused by a Lithium Battery

An explosive fire broke out in the Bronx after being caused by a lithium battery used to power a micro mobility device, forcing residents out of their homes and leading to six injuries, two non-life threatening.

Lithium-ion batteries have been blamed for 17 of New York City’s fire deaths so far this year, according to FDNY safety officials, and these fires can quickly spread and be hard to extinguish.

Battery Fires

The Fire Department of New York has confirmed that the Soundview neighborhood fire was caused by a lithium battery attached to an e-bike. 78 firefighters from 20 units worked tirelessly for three hours to put out this devastating blaze that destroyed three apartments and claimed one life; Kam Mei Koo, aged 93 years old was among them.

Lithium batteries are widely used in devices ranging from e-bikes and electric bikes, laptop computers, cellphones and electric cars. Unfortunately, lithium batteries can also be the source of fire in homes and public buildings due to thermal runaway or improper handling or storage practices; such fires often start when handling is improper or storage practices insufficient. Therefore it is advised that people refrain from keeping lithium batteries inside their homes overnight charging.

New laws aim to help stop lithium battery fires; New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently signed five bills designed to do just that, along with issuing a public awareness campaign about their risks and advising people to purchase only UL-certified batteries, not charge them in closed rooms, and keep them away from windows.

Fires caused by lithium batteries have quickly become an increasing public safety threat in New York. Last year alone, the Fire Department New York responded to over 200 fires involving lithium batteries – representing an almost 50% increase over 2016; now surpassing electrical fires as the leading cause of fatal fires across the city.

The new laws aim to make it more difficult for manufacturers and sellers of e-bikes and other devices that use lithium batteries – such as e-bikes – to utilize such batteries, by mandating that devices equipped with them include safety features that protect against battery explosion. Furthermore, manufacturers will need to test each battery prior to selling them before selling them; counterfeit or aftermarket batteries will also become illegal under these new rules.

The Bronx fire is only the most recent of several lithium battery and e-bike fires that have plagued New York in recent months. Just last month, an apartment fire in Manhattan that was caused by an e-bike caused three deaths among three generations of family members while injuring eight other people.

Thermal Runaway

Lithium-ion batteries provide power for electric bikes and scooters. Because these flammable materials contain lithium, lithium-ion batteries are easily susceptible to fires or explosions; in particular, fires caused by lithium batteries are difficult to extinguish as even one cell could set off an extremely intense electrical fire known as thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway can occur due to manufacturing mistakes or physical damage. Low-quality batteries may have issues such as welding defects and misalignments of components that cause short circuits and overheating; extreme temperatures, overcharging, or physical abuse could damage them as well as insufficient safety features or not meeting safety standards.

Reasons that batteries can be so dangerous include their susceptibility to temperature variations. Their chemistry may change as temperatures warm or cool down, potentially sparking chemical reactions that lead to overheating or fires.

Since 2021, New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has recorded more than 400 e-bike battery fires which have claimed 17 lives and destroyed multiple buildings – sparking city officials to issue warnings of their danger.

Fires caused by battery problems are frequently the result of “thermal runaway.” This phenomenon refers to when an overheated battery triggers an irreparable chain reaction of overheating that leads to overheating and eventually ignition – even when not being charged or used at all.

At 152F, lithium batteries become dangerous. At this point they cannot be stopped and reach thermal runaway mode which could result in fire outbreak.

Avoid thermal runaway by using high-quality batteries, charging them properly and keeping them away from heat sources. Furthermore, it is advised to purchase ones equipped with protective cases or covers and change it every 10 years for maximum performance.

Blast

One of the most alarming aspects of lithium-ion battery fires is their potential to explode, creating an unpredictable fireball capable of knocking over objects and sending them tumbling over, potentially causing serious injuries or even death.

Because of this, it is vital to store e-bikes and devices containing batteries safely away from doors and hallways, while using smoke detectors is also an essential measure in all homes, including apartments.

On Sunday night at approximately 7 p.m. at Bronx River Houses on Bronx River Ave near Cross Bronx Expressway in Soundview, an apartment fire was caused by the charging of lithium-ion battery pack, leaving one person severely burned and dead, according to the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).

Hiram Borrero-Echevarria lived on the 10th-floor, north side of his building. Firefighters arriving to investigate found an e-bike already burning by his front door; soon thereafter it spread rapidly, with one neighbor hearing an explosion before its fire quickly consumed his apartment unit.

E-bikes and other e-powered devices have grown increasingly popular, but they pose some significant safety concerns. If left unattended, e-bikes or other devices powered by batteries may erupt into flames that are difficult to extinguish due to quick, intense burns that spread quickly across their surface area – they may even rekindle again after visible flames have subsided.

Oswald Feliz of New York City Council introduced several pieces of legislation this year that would require all electric bicycles sold within New York City to be registered and purchased through licensed vendors only. His bills also called for creating a database listing all e-bike sales within New York, as well as penalties against violators.

Lithium-ion batteries can ignite when their metal casings overheat or are overheated due to misuse or being placed under pressure, such as by placing something heavy on top or trying to charge it using an incorrect charger. Furthermore, devices may become more prone to fire if tampered with or dropped.

Since June, lithium-ion batteries have been the leading cause of fires in New York City. According to data provided by FDNY, they have caused 71 injuries and 13 fatalities so far this year alone, prompting hundreds of 311 calls from residents about potentially hazardous battery situations.

Explosion

All batteries, regardless of type, store chemical energy which can be released as an explosive fire. Lithium-ion batteries in particular are more vulnerable due to their higher specific energy and overcharging sensitivity; these cells are commonly found in e-bikes, scooters, cell phones and laptops and cause fires frequently when powered on or recharged – being found there leads them to spark into life quickly!

Lithium battery explosions can happen anytime and can have devastating repercussions. Explosions caused by lithium batteries have resulted in serious injuries and deaths as well as property losses; moreover, recent fire caused by lithium batteries in the Bronx left six families homeless and the American Red Cross is working with them. One man died and many more were injured when an e-bike lithium-ion battery caught fire; its fiery aftermath destroyed three-story apartment buildings along East 225th Street as well as Concourse Food Plaza and Laundromat next door – leading them all council members planned legislation Wednesday that would increase fire safety precautions further.

On Sunday night, a 39-year-old man was tragically killed when a fire caused by lithium-ion battery ignited a Bronx apartment, per FDNY officials and reported by AP and Gothamist. It took 78 firefighters to put out the flames.

Video footage of the inferno appears to show smoke and flames engulfing a building, as well as an extended plume of black smoke that spread for miles. A number of individuals were injured and treated immediately at the scene before being transported for additional care at hospital.

Although numerous factors can lead to lithium-ion battery fires, many are preventable. By following the manufacturer’s recommendations for usage, storage, and charging procedures for their battery(s), injuries can be minimized or lost altogether. Children and pets should never access them unattended; additionally it’s wise not to charge or store your battery near an open flame or heat source.