NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A lithium-ion battery was found at the scene of a Queens fire that injured six people Sunday morning, including three firefighters, and fire marshals are investigating the cause of the blaze.
The fire broke out around 11 a.m. Sunday morning at a two-story building located at 116-50 146th St. in South Jamaica, the FDNY said.
“[Firefighters] started to do their searches, they were met with a heavy volume of fire inside, they also discovered heavy fire in the basement,” Assistant Chief Mike Muiers said. “We went to a third-alarm which means we had about 33 units and 144 firefighters on scene.”
According to Muiers and Deputy Chief Yonatan Klein, the fire spread to multiple nearby sheds and heavy winds sent fire all around the dwelling. Firefighters were able to get four hose lines in place about 13 minutes after responding in order to stop the spread.
Six people were injured in total, including three firefighters who suffered minor injuries.
Two civilians were treated on the scene, and a 65-year-old man was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition, the FDNY said.
Fire marshals will determine the official cause of the fire, but Klein said that a lithium-ion battery was involved in the blaze, regardless of whether or not it was the stimulant.
“We did find an e-bike that had burned through that was involved in the fire itself,” he said. “So even if it wasn’t the cause of the fire, it probably definitely contributed to the fire condition, and it might’ve been the catalyst for what happened.”
Responders also found four propane cylinders at the fire, which Klein said is expected at these types of occupancies, but they were undamaged.
“Thank God none of those levied or blew up, otherwise it would’ve been a much more tough situation,” he said.
The fire was under control around noon and the investigation is ongoing.