FDNY Urges Caution as Battery Fires Keep Rising

By Y.M. Lowy

FDNY Urges Caution as Battery Fires Keep Rising

The FDNY is warning New Yorkers again after seeing a sharp rise in fires linked to lithium-ion batteries. So far this year, structural fires are up 26 percent compared to the same time last year.

Many of these fires have started when e-bike or scooter batteries were charged or stored indoors. Fire officials are asking the public to keep batteries outside whenever possible and never charge them overnight.

The FDNY has issued similar warnings before, but with more fires and more injuries, they say the risk is only growing.