On Monday afternoon, a fire broke out in Queens, allegedly caused by an e-bike, which resulted in the tragic death of two children. The blaze started in the vestibule and spread upstairs, where a father and his five children resided.
Three children managed to escape by jumping out of the window, while two others were unable to make it out and died. More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene and managed to rescue another victim who suffered injuries but was expected to survive.
Neighbors who witnessed the incident rushed to help the family trapped inside. One of them recounted catching three kids and their father as they jumped out of the burning home to safety. This is the 59th fire caused by a lithium-ion battery this year, resulting in five fatalities.
Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh expressed her grief for the victims’ family and emphasized the importance of educating people on lithium-ion battery safety. She urged e-bike users to follow manufacturer safety guidelines and recommended regulations by federal, state, and local authorities to prevent similar tragedies.
