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Sunset Park residents displaced by apparent e-bike fire: FDNY

firefighter in sunset park
A fire that appeared to have been caused by lithium-ion e-bike batteries tore through a Sunset Park building on Thursday.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Nearly two dozen Sunset Park residents were displaced by what appeared to be a lithium-ion battery fire early on Thursday morning.

Firefighters arrived at the two-story brick building at 666 48th St. just after 3:30 a.m. to find lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes burning in the basement and on the first floor of the building, according to the FDNY. News12 Brooklyn reported that the fire may have been sparked by two e-bikes stored next to each other in the basement. 

firefighters inside sunset park building
More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

After a more than hour-long battle, the fire was brought under control just before 5 a.m. Two firefighters were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.

According to the American Red Cross, a total of 21 residents from seven households — including 17 adults and four children — were displaced and are seeking emergency assistance from the agency. 

The FDNY’s Hazmat crews were called in to safely remove the batteries and e-bikes from the scene, and the fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire. 

Lithium-ion batteries, which are often used to power e-bikes and scooters, caused at least 239 fires in New York City last year, according to the FDNY — resulting in 124 injuries and 17 fatalities. Last year, two families were displaced by a fire at an e-bike shop on 7th Avenue in Sunset Park — and another fire tore through a storage facility on 63rd Street just six months later.

man displaced by sunset park fire
Several people were displaced by the blaze. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

In November, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said the batteries are “ticking time bombs” after a blaze sparked by an e-bike killed three people in Crown Heights. The FDNY has urged New Yorkers to use only certified lithium-ion batteries and chargers, as well as to avoid storing e-bikes and scooters indoors. 

Update 2/8/24, 3:21 p.m: This story has been updated with additional information from the American Red Cross.