BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: The devastating fire that engulfed a residence in Brooklyn's Crown Heights, claiming the lives of three generations of a New York City family was attributed to a lithium-ion battery used to power an electric scooter.
The fire, breaking out just after 4:30 am on Sunday, November 12, at 242 Albany Ave, was initiated by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery.
This led to the formation of a formidable "wall of fire," making it exceptionally difficult for residents to navigate and escape the three-alarm blaze.
Who are the victims of the tragic fire?
The harrowing fire resulted in the tragic deaths of matriarch Albertha West, 81, her son Michael West, 58, and grandson Jamiyl West, 33, according to officials from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).
FDNY officials announced on Monday that the inferno's origin was linked to a lithium-ion battery powering an electric scooter owned by one of the victims.
The ignited battery generated what Commissioner Laura Kavanagh described as a "wall of fire," posing significant challenges for residents attempting to evacuate and making firefighting efforts perilous for members of the FDNY.
"The volume of fire we see from these batteries creates untenable conditions both for residents to get out, but also for [FDNY] members to get in," Commissioner Kavanagh stated during a news conference.
Initially hospitalized with critical injuries, the three West family members succumbed to their injuries later on Sunday.
Additionally, the blaze left at least 14 other people injured, including a firefighter who is now recovering at home with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Neighborhood mourns the good samaritans
Neighborhood resident Jason Thompson, who witnessed the horrifying scene, recounted waking up to thick smoke and immediately urging his family to evacuate.
Although his family escaped unharmed, he vividly described the grim sight of the last person rescued from the engulfed home, stating, "They were charred. Laying on a stretcher," New York Post reported.
The victims, including the beloved grandmother Albertha, were described by Thompson as "lovely people" who had been a part of the community for 40 years.
“Just lovely people we grew up with, their kids and their grandkids,” he claimed. “They were like family. Very very sweet people."
Lithium-ion battery-related fires contribute to alarming fire-related deaths in the city
The incident underscores a growing concern as lithium-ion battery-related fires have accounted for 17 out of the 93 fire-related deaths reported in the city this year.
Commissioner Kavanagh labeled these devices as "ticking time bombs" and expressed frustration with the private sector's lack of responsibility.
“There is blood on the hands of this private industry, both from the online retailers who continue to sell these illegal devices to this day. And from the food delivery apps who continue to think that this problem will solve itself,” she asserted.
She added, “We cannot and we will not stand by while the industry does nothing to solve a problem that lies squarely at their feet and that they can do something about today."
