On June 26, an all-hands fire broke out inside a basement apartment in a private dwelling in Queens. FDNY Fire Marshals determined the cause of the fire to be a lithium-ion battery that was charging in the kitchen of the fire apartment. The fire trapped a 48-year-old man inside the home, who had to escape through a bedroom window. The victim later died at a hospital.
This is the first death in 2026 connected to a lithium-ion battery fire that happened this year.
Where possible, charge and store lithium-ion batteries or micromobility devices OUTSIDE. Do not charge them overnight, and do not block any exits. It can mean the difference between life and death.
For more information, visit FDNYSmart.org.