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Oct 17, 2024

Lithium-ion battery caused Brighton Beach fire that killed 1, injured others, says FDNY - Gothamist

Published Oct 16, 2024 at 12:09 p.m. ET Modified Oct 16, 2024 at 12:55 p.m. ET Share Published Oct 16, 2024 at 12:09 p.m. ET Modified Oct 16, 2024 at 12:55 p.m. ET Share Make your contribution now and

Published Oct 16, 2024 at 12:09 p.m. ET

Modified Oct 16, 2024 at 12:55 p.m. ET

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Published Oct 16, 2024 at 12:09 p.m. ET

Modified Oct 16, 2024 at 12:55 p.m. ET

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FDNY officials say a lithium-ion battery caused a Brighton Beach fire that killed one person and injured several others early Wednesday morning on Brighton Third Street and Brightwater Court.

A 69-year-old man was charging the battery in his second-floor bedroom when the device burst into flames, officials said. Neighbors reported hearing screams and a loud explosion shortly after 3:30 a.m.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said he lived with four other family members, including two children who escaped unharmed. The two other adults – a 32-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man – tried to put out the fire themselves, according to FDNY officials, and suffered burns on their hands.

Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn said at a press conference at the scene that the battery appeared to have been unregulated, and was purchased online to power a scooter. It was blocking the bedroom door, preventing the man who died from exiting.

“Do not put these devices between you and the front door. You have to have a plan, make sure that you can get out,” Flynn said.

He added that lithium-ion battery fires are too intense for residents to try to put out themselves.

“Call 911, let us get out there as quickly as possible to extinguish these,” Flynn said. “You will not be able to put these things out on your own.”

The smell of smoke lingered in the soot-covered second-floor hallway on Wednesday morning, and residents said they were shaken by what happened.

“I woke up because of a very bad smell,” said fourth-floor resident Irina Chyorny. “I came to the living room, opened the window, a lot of people were coming down the fire [escape].”

Third-floor resident Erjin Kholmatova said through a translator that she heard people screaming “help me,” and then a “loud boom,” like an explosion.

When Kholmatova found out the children escaped unharmed, she put her hands on her heart and bowed her head.

The FDNY has been making a concerted push to educate residents and enforce rules around the batteries. The Brighton Beach incident marks the fourth fatality from a lithium-ion battery fire so far this year. There were 14 at this time last year, according to the FDNY.

“Although deaths have decreased because people are listening, this is number four and it's too many,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. “I will not stop talking about unregulated lithium-ion batteries and the dangers that they cause until we're at zero.”

Police and fire department officials have not yet released the name of the man who died.

Bahar Ostadan contributed reporting.

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Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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