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Fatal Harlem fire that killed 5-year-old girl caused by scooter battery
By
Gwynne Hogan
Published Aug 3, 2022
Modified Aug 3, 2022
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By
Gwynne Hogan
Published Aug 3, 2022
Modified Aug 3, 2022
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An overnight blaze inside the Jackie Robinson Houses in East Harlem that killed a 5-year-old girl and seriously injured her father, was caused by a lithium-ion battery used for a scooter or an e-bike, FDNY officials said Wednesday.
A 36-year-old woman, the man’s girlfriend, was also killed in the blaze, according to police.
Photos from the New York Times showed the charred remains of what appeared to be a motorized scooter outside the scene of the fire.
A fire department spokesperson said the battery was spotted near the apartment's exit, blocking the escape for the family trapped inside.
The latest two deaths, bring the total number of people who perished in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries to five so far this year — more than the number of people who died in similar fashion through all of last year, according to FDNY data.
First responders arrived at the scene of the fire at East 129th Street at around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and rushed the three victims to Harlem Hospital, police said. The 5-year-old girl and woman later died at the hospital. At least two others sustained minor injuries and were treated at nearby hospitals, including a firefighter, according to the FDNY.
The flames consumed the family’s 6th floor apartment, though it hadn’t spread to any of the surrounding units, police said.
The family had not been identified as of Wednesday afternoon, while extended family was notified of their deaths.
In May, Gothamist reported the number of lithium-ion battery related fires was on track to double, and FDNY officials were trying to offer the public guidance on how to charge them in a safer way.
Through Wednesday, FDNY officials said charging lithium-ion batteries either from scooters or e-bikes caused 121 fires, in which 66 people were injured and five people killed, surpassing the total number of fires and fatalities for all of last year. Both years represent a dramatic increase from 2020, when there were 44 fires and no deaths, the FDNY said.
The increase in battery fires likely corresponds with an increase in the popularity of e-bikes and scooters; for delivery workers, recreation and regular transportation. The Workers Justice Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos planned to open a hub for delivery workers to safely charge their e-bike batteries. The group didn't return a request for comment immediately.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly cited officials on details about the battery that caused the fire. This story has been updated to clarify that officials are still investigating whether the battery was charging at the time.
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Gwynne Hogan
Gwynne Hogan is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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