Lithium batteries cause disaster again, Benson congratulates Chinese house fire in Brooklyn
On October 13, a fire broke out at a semi-attached Chinese residence in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, attributed to a lithium battery placed on an electric motorcycle parked outside. The blaze severely damaged both the first and second floors of the home, but fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
Witness Mr. Li recounted the morning of the incident, saying, “Around 9:10 AM, I was working in a nearby store when I heard a loud bang. Initially, I thought it was a car accident. When I stepped outside, I realized the front yard of a house across the street was on fire.” He described the flames as small initially, but they rapidly escalated. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had nearly reached the second floor, accompanied by thick, billowing smoke. “From the outside, the windows on both floors were already on fire,” he added.
Approximately 60 firefighters and multiple fire trucks swiftly responded to the scene. They worked to control the flames using high-pressure hoses and entered the house through side windows. By 9:53 AM, the fire was mostly under control. Firefighters discovered three charred and twisted electric motorcycles in the front yard, as well as severely damaged lithium batteries. After extinguishing the flames, they found additional lithium batteries inside a second-floor room and carefully placed them in a drum-style safety container designed for such materials.
According to reliable sources, the owners and residents of the affected home are all part of the Chinese community. The homeowner purchased the property around five or six years ago and has been renting it out. The motorcycle that ignited the fire belonged to a tenant living on the second floor, who had plugged a wire from the second floor to charge the battery of the motorcycle parked beneath the window. This tenant never anticipated that a fire could erupt from the outdoor lithium battery, ultimately endangering other residents. Fortunately, the house’s brick exterior structure withstood the fire, although the walls were charred.
From reports, the landlord has divided the residence into four rental units, with four families currently living there. Following the fire, the house was rendered uninhabitable due to power and water outages. The landlord is covering the costs for the affected tenants to secure temporary housing while simultaneously working on repairs to the damaged property, hoping to restore it for their return soon.
Data indicates that in New York City, there were 133 fires caused by uncharged lithium batteries in 2023, with 91 occurring while the batteries were being charged. As of September 30 of this year, there have been a total of 202 lithium battery-related fires in the city, with 104 occurring within buildings. Last June, a fire at an electric motorcycle shop on Madison Street in Manhattan resulted in a tragic incident that claimed four lives, including a 71-year-old man.
