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Lithium-ion battery caused Bronx fire that killed 11-year-old, FDNY says
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 1:54 p.m. ET
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By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 1:54 p.m. ET
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An e-bike’s lithium-ion battery caused a Bronx apartment fire that killed an 11-year-old boy and critically injured four other people early Wednesday, FDNY officials said.
Firefighters found an e-bike in the kitchen near the entrance of an 11th-floor apartment at the Patterson Houses, a public housing complex in Mott Haven, officials said. The blaze began around 12:50 a.m. and spread quickly throughout the home, according to officials.
“It was placed in a spot in the kitchen that made it impossible for the residents to leave safely,” Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said. “ We know lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, and we know how valuable they are to people's livelihoods, so we need to remind New Yorkers how to use them safely.”
FDNY officials said firefighters forced the apartment door open, then searched the apartment for victims before working to control the fire. They found one person immediately behind the door, then crawled past the flames to search for and rescue the rest of the occupants, according to officials.
All five people were rushed to a nearby hospital, where an 11-year-old boy was pronounced dead. The four others, including two teenagers, remain in critical condition, officials said.
“ I ask New Yorkers to join me in sending our deepest condolences to the family of the child who passed away, and in praying for a full and quick recovery for those who are currently battling to survive,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a press conference Wednesday.
According to FDNY data, lithium-ion batteries have caused more than 400 fires across the city this year, resulting in 74 injuries and six deaths. That's compared to 292 fires last year, which caused 51 injuries, and just one death.
“ Lithium-ion battery fires are extremely dangerous because they spread fast and ferociously,” Bonsignore said. “The battery cells go into thermal runaway, which makes a small fire turn into a very big fire very, very quickly.”
Bonsignore said lithium-ion batteries used to power micromobility devices should be charged and stored outside when possible. She said the devices should never block exits, doors or windows, and the batteries should never be charged when people are sleeping or not in the room. She also said New Yorkers should only buy batteries certified by national safety testing organizations like UL, and advised against using leaking, damaged or smoking batteries.
Lisa Bova-Hyatt, CEO of the New York City Housing Authority, said NYCHA is working to relocate and support the affected families and is assessing needed repairs in the apartment and the building.
NYCHA had previously proposed an e-bike ban at its complexes in 2022, but rescinded the proposal and instead implemented rules for keeping e-bikes in apartments after pushback from tenants and delivery riders. The rules state that residents may only charge one lithium-ion battery or device at a time, and an adult must be present and awake while it’s charging. The device must also be placed more than 5 feet from a heating source and must not block any entryways, according to the rules.
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Catalina Gonella
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