At least four people lost their lives after a major fire broke out at an e-bike shop in New York City.
The explosion occurred shortly after midnight Tuesday in a six-story building that houses the “HQ E-Bike Repairs” business on Madison Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side – a spokesman for the New York Fire Department (FDNY) said.
The fire involved the entire store, which also has several apartments above it. Two men and two women died and two other women were hospitalized in critical condition. Among the injured was also a firefighter, who, however, suffered minor burns.
The cause of the deflagration has not yet been determined, but the most likely hypothesis is that it was an overheating of the lithium-ion batteries commonly powering e-bikes, which are an increasingly popular choice in the Big Apple.
If confirmed, that would not be the first such tragedy: last year alone there were about 200 accidents. Back in April, two children died in a fire in Queens after an e-bike suddenly caught fire. In November, several dozen people were injured in another fire in Manhattan after an electric bicycle’s battery was damaged.
The lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes – as well as those in laptops, smartphones and other household appliances -are notoriously susceptible to catching fire because they contain a flammable electrolyte solution that allows the transmission of electric current and possible overheating that degenerates into combustion.
For this reason, the New York City Fire Department has repeatedly warned not to leave devices or e-bikes charging while sleeping.
The FDNY is encouraging New Yorkers w/ lithium-ion powered mobility devices to follow practices to prevent fires and keep you safe. Do not leave batteries charging unattended or overnight when you’re sleeping. Do not use power or extension cords to charge. https://t.co/FJM6TLqOnk pic.twitter.com/EQqjvxItds
— FDNY (@FDNY) June 20, 2023
