NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Two children were killed in a fire in Queens on Monday that fire officials said was the latest to be started by an e-bike.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the fire on 46th Street near 25th Avenue in Astoria just after 2 p.m.
The FDNY said the fire started in the first-floor vestibule and traveled upstairs, where the seven-person family lived.
A father and three children were able to jump out of a window, but two children were not able to make it out. The mother was not at home at the time.
FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens said the fire would typically be put out "without incident," but because an e-bike sparked it, it was like an "explosion of fire," and the "occupants had very little chance of escaping."
"It's a terrible tragedy," he said.
FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn said that an after-market charger and an extension cord were used to charge the device, and the e-bike was most likely charging when the fire broke out.
This is the 59th fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in 2023. So far this year, five people have died in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. Last year, there were six e-bike-related fatalities.
"The horrific fire that resulted in the death of two young people Monday afternoon is a stark reminder of the importance of an issue the FDNY has been talking about for some time: education and awareness around lithium-ion batteries," said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh in a statement.
"We know people have e-bikes and similar micro-mobility devices, and we are imploring users to follow all manufacturer safety guidelines and recommendations," she added. "We are also calling on our federal, state and local partners to move quickly on regulations that will help ensure tragedies like today's fire are prevented. We are heartbroken for the family of these victims."
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