NEW YORK — Flames and smoke poured out of a Brooklyn residence Thursday, and investigators say the hearth was sparked by an e-bike.
According to the FDNY, it was one in every of 4 fires began by e-bikes in a single day.
Panic could possibly be heard as flames shot a number of ft into the air in Kensington, Brooklyn. A fireplace engulfed two properties on East Ninth Street early Thursday morning.
“Nightmarish,” neighbor Aaron Wexler instructed CBS2’s Cory James.
“I saw a blaze. It was like a furnace. It felt like I was in front of a heater,” neighbor Joseph Barry mentioned.
Barry lives a pair doorways down. He discovered e-batteries have been the reason for the hearth, and that hit residence.
“I own an e-bike myself,” he mentioned.
So far this 12 months, there have been greater than 40 fires from lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes and scooters, in accordance with the FDNY. One of these fires was lethal.
Last 12 months, officers say there have been greater than 100 related fires with 79 accidents and 4 deaths.
“Shocks me,” Brooklyn resident Karen Heimann mentioned.
The FDNY created a video sharing security recommendations on methods to safely costs, retailer and throw away e-batteries.
Some of their recommendations embody buying merchandise which were examined in a lab, following producer directions and never charging gadgets underneath a pillow, mattress or sofa.
Joseph Barry’s father, in the meantime, says due to the hearth in his neighborhood, he plans to be further cautious together with his son’s e-bike.
“Let’s make sure he doesn’t plug it in overnight,” he mentioned. “We want to have somebody awake while that thing’s charging, not when he’s sleeping.”
The three different fires have been all in Manhattan. Fire officers inform us a complete of 12 individuals have been injured general. None of these accidents are severe.