Fatal Bronx fire may be due to lithium-ion battery, fire officials say - Gothamist

Oct 25, 2024

Published Oct 25, 2024 at 9:16 a.m. ET

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Published Oct 25, 2024 at 9:16 a.m. ET

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A man died in a Bronx fire Thursday night that may have been caused by a lithium-ion battery, according to fire department officials.

Police and firefighters arrived at the three-story building on Beaumont Avenue and Grove Street – two blocks from the Bronx Zoo – just before midnight. They found a fire on the third floor, and a 34-year-old man unconscious. He later died at St. Barnabas Hospital, police said, and his name was not immediately released.

First responders also took a 56-year-old man to Jacobi Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, but police said he was in stable condition. Two firefighters also had minor injuries, according to the FDNY.

A hazmat unit on scene recovered a lithium-ion battery, officials said.

Fire officials said it’s still unclear if the battery caused the blaze, but they're investigating. If so, it would be the fifth death from a lithium-ion battery-related fire in the city this year, according to FDNY data.

Last year, 18 New Yorkers died as a result of the intense fires that can ignite when the batteries aren’t regulated or charged properly, according to the FDNY.

A 69-year-old grandfather died in his Brighton Beach apartment last week during a powerful blaze that fire officials determined had been caused by a charging lithium ion battery.

A total of 10 people were left homeless by Thursday night’s blaze, and the Red Cross was on scene to help them, police said.

The fire was brought under control by 1:40 a.m.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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