NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A lithium-ion battery was found to be the cause of a tragic fire that left three dead and 14 injured in a Crown Heights brownstone, according to FDNY officials.
The fire which broke out early Sunday morning added to a growing number of fatal fires caused by these batteries in New York City marking the city's death toll from lithium-ion battery fires to 17 this year, contributing to the city's alarming total of 93 fire deaths to date.
The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. at 242 Albany Avenue near Park Place and took firefighters nearly an hour and a half to extinguish.
Among those killed were three family members, 81-year-old Albertha West, her son Michael West, 58, and her 33-year-old grandson, Jamiyl.
They were found in critical cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at nearby hospitals.
FDNY Chief of Fire Operations John Esposito described the firefighting efforts as "difficult and dangerous," with intense flames across multiple floors. "We had to stretch multiple handlines to each floor," said Esposito. "At the same time, while we are trying to extinguish the fire, they’re doing searches on the floor with the heavy fire and above that.”
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh urged retailers like Amazon and Walmart to stop the sale of illegal batteries.
"These illegal uncertified devices are ticking time bombs," Kavanaugh told 1010 WINS.
She expressed frustration over the lack of online industry oversight, saying, "Given how little oversight there is by the online industry, I would say those are not safe at this moment."
Kavanaugh is also calling on food delivery companies to safeguard their drivers who frequently use e-bikes powered by these batteries.