Metro

2 critically injured in NYC fire have died as FDNY confirms blaze sparked by lithium battery

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Published May 9, 2023, 6:36 p.m. ET

Two people who were critically hurt in a Sunday afternoon blaze in Upper Manhattan have died from their injuries, as officials also confirmed that the fire was sparked by a lithium battery.

Two others injured in the 1 p.m. fire at 565 W. 190th Street in Fort George remain in “extremely critical” condition, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said Tuesday.

Their names have not been released.

Kavanagh also confirmed earlier reports that a lithium battery sparked the fire — although not one on an e-bike as initially suspected.

“There was a bike that was pulled out and set in front of the building and initially — and incorrectly — people decided that bike was the case of the fire, which it was not,” the commissioner said.

“But once the marshals were able to get into the apartment they found a battery and that battery was the cause of the fire,” Kavanagh said.

She said there were “multiple lithium-ion batteries” in the fourth-floor apartment where the fire started.

Scene of a fatal Sunday afternoon fire in Upper Manhattan.
The Sunday afternoon fire in a fourth-floor apartment on West 190th Street in Fort George left four people critically hurt — with two of them later dying from their injuries, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said Tuesday. Tomas E. Gaston
Scene of a Sunday afternoon fire in Upper Manhattan.
Kavanagh confirmed earlier reports that a lithium battery sparked the fire — although not one on an e-bike as initially suspected. Tomas E. Gaston

So far this year, the batteries have sparked 76 fires in the five boroughs, injuring 60 people and killing seven people, topping the total for all of last year, Kavanagh said.

“It is quickly becoming one of the leading causes of fire deaths this year,” she said. “And we want to emphasize again: These fires are extremely dangerous. They create a large volume of fire very quickly and present significant threats to New Yorkers who try to get out of their homes and to our members as they respond to these calls.

“Please, please use these devices the way they’re supposed to be used.”

E-scooter initially believed to have cased a Sunday afternoon fire.
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said this damaged e-scooter, left outside the Fort George fire scene was initially mistaken as the cause of the blaze. Instead, it was one of “multiple” lithium batteries in the fourth-floor apartment. Tomas E. Gaston
Scene of a fire with multiple red tags, at 565 West 190 Street in Manhattan New York.
The names of the victims have not been released. Tomas E. Gaston

Kavanagh said the e-bikes should not be charged overnight or when residents are out, nor should they be stored near windows or exits. They should also have approved certification markings.

About 75 firefighters battled the Upper Manhattan and doused the flames after one hour, officials said.

The four people injured were taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

In total, 45 people have been killed in fires in the Big Apple so far this year, Kavanagh said.