Fire at e-bike shop in Queens
Queens e-Bike shop fire believed to have been sparked by lithium-ion battery
A fire inside of a Queens e-bike shop is believed to have been sparked by a lithium-ion battery, in yet another example of fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries that have caused several deaths and dozens of injuries in New York City in the last few years.
NEW YORK - Fire officials say a massive fire at an e-Bike shop in Queens is now under control.
More than 100 fire and EMS members responded to what became a two-alarm fire, which tore through the garage of the Kings Electric Scooters shop on Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill at around 2:30 p.m.
RELATED: After latest battery fire, Bronx officials call for changes
It took roughly an hour for first responders to get the fire under control.
"I was at work when I got the call That my house was basically on fire I rushed over, and I saw that The back area of the garage has been destroyed," said neighbor Anthony Multari.
'It's a crisis' - NYC Council Member Keith Powers on lithium-ion battery fires
New York City Council Member Keith Powers says that the string of fires started by lithium-ion batteries in New York City has become a "full-blown crisis." He spoke with FOX 5 NY about recent legislation massed by the council to regulate e-bike batteries and try and prevent more fires.
Authorities say two people were treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital.
Fire officials say that, while the investigation is still underway, they believe a faulty e-bike battery was the cause. Reportedly, there were between 30 and 50 e-bikes packed in the shop's garage.
"As a preliminary investigation, we would say it was an e-bike type of fire," Deputy Chief Daniel Brown said.
The FDNY has been saying for months now that lithium-ion battery fires can escalate extremely fast and cause tremendous damage.
Earlier on Monday, the FDNY tweeted about e-bike and lithium-ion battery safety, urging New Yorkers never to leave their batteries charging overnight or unattended.
As a safety protocol, the FDNY says, if a lithium-ion battery overheats, just stop using it.
E-bike battery fires have become a major concern across New York City in 2023. Last week, an e-bike was blamed for starting a fire that destroyed a grocery store in the Bronx and left seven people injured.
RELATED: Lithium-ion battery sparked Queens house fire that left 1 dead: FDNY
In January, a man was killed, and three other people were injured after a house fire sparked by a lithium-ion battery.
The city council has recently passed legislation to prevent these with new safety restrictions on sales of reassembled batteries.
Fire officials say there have been over 400 such fires since 2019, with over 200 fires in New York City in the last year.