'Chilling' video shows the moment a lithium-ion battery started a fire at NY supermarket

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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A lithium-ion battery for a scooter started a five-alarm fire at a New York supermarket Sunday, injuring seven people.

Five firefighters, one EMS member and one civilian were injured but everyone is stable, said Laura Kavanagh, fire commissioner with the New York City Fire Department, in a Facebook post.

In a video filmed inside the supermarket, a fire breaks out and an individual tries to move items out of the way. The flames get bigger and the person runs out of the camera's view. Eventually, the flames engulf the room before the video cuts.

The call came in at 10:41 a.m. Sunday, and over 200 members of the Fire and EMS departments were at the scene before the blaze was under control.

"There is extraordinary damage," Kavanagh said in a statement posted online. "This entire building behind me is completely destroyed. The roof is caved in. There is nothing left."

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How do lithium-ion battery fires start?

Days before the fire broke out, the fire department posted a warning about the batteries.

"Fires caused by lithium ion batteries have increased dramatically in New York City with deadly consequences," said Captain Michael Kozo from the fire department's Fire Safety Education Unit.

The rechargeable batteries typically come with electric bikes, scooters, cars, laptops, tablets, phones and common household items, Kozo said.

Damaged batteries and "improper charging, storage or disposal can cause the batteries to overheat," igniting explosive, aggressive fires that spread rapidly and can reignite.

Kozo listed tips to prevent fires such as these. Tips include:

  • Do not store bikes or scooters near doors or windows that block exits

  • Do not leave devices unattended when charging

  • Do not charge devices overnight

  • Only purchase devices listed by a qualified testing laboratory

  • Do not charge devices on pillows, beds or couches

  • Only use manufacturer power cords and batteries made specifically for the device

  • Keep batteries or devices at room temperature and away from direct sunlight and anything flammable

  • If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape or color, leaking or odd noises from a device, stop using it

"Putting lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling is illegal and dangerous," Kozo added. "Take them to a battery recycling location or visit www.nyc.gov/batteries for proper disposal instructions."

NYC Mayor: 'This is a real issue'

Mayor Eric Adams visited the scene and released a video statement about the fire, calling it "chilling" how quickly the battery exploded and how hard the fire is to put out.

"This is a real issue," he said. "We don't want this ... to continue to happen. E-bikes are great for recreation but they can be extremely dangerous if they are in the wrong place or the wrong batteries are used."

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scooter battery causes aggressive fire at Bronx, NY supermarket