The alarming FDNY images serve as a reminder of the potential dangers these batteries pose.
Shocking video released by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) captured the terrifying moment an electric bike's lithium-ion battery exploded, causing a devastating fire that engulfed a store in Queens.
The alarming images serve as a reminder of the potential dangers these batteries pose, causing a major fire and raising concerns about the safety of such electronic devices.
CCTV footage, taken inside the e-bike shop on a Saturday night, reveals a seemingly routine environment before chaos erupts. The images show a space full of mopeds, highlighting the suddenness and intensity of the battery explosion that unleashed a fierce inferno.
Responding quickly to the two-alarm fire, the FDNY arrived to find nearly two dozen e-bikes on fire. Fortunately, the store was unoccupied at the time, so there were no civilian casualties. However, one firefighter suffered minor injuries while he battled the fierce flames.
Investigations indicated that the source of the fire was the lithium-ion battery of an electric bicycle. The video, which captures the battery igniting around 10:40 p.m., vividly portrays the rapid escalation of sparks and explosions that transformed into a blazing fire, consuming the entire store in a matter of minutes.
As e-bikes become normal in New York City, the FDNY reported more than 130 fires associated with e-bikes and scooters in 2022 alone. These incidents resulted in five deaths and numerous injuries, underscoring the critical need to improve security measures regarding these widely used electronic devices.
Authorities, including the U.S. National Fire Protection Association, have emphasized the importance of following safety guidelines to mitigate such risks.
The FDNY has persistently warned residents about the potential dangers related to electric bike lithium-ion batteries, attributing them to a notable increase in fire incidents across the city.
