Fire at NYC e-bike shop caused by batteries kills 4 living upstairs

Four residents of an apartment building near Manhattan's Chinatown were killed and at least two others critically injured when a fire ripped through a ground-floor e-bike shop early Tuesday — the latest blaze caused by exploding e-bike batteries in New York City.

The batteries are used for e-bikes and e-scooters and were inside the location, which had been cited in August by the fire marshal for violations, the FDNY commissioner, Laura Kavanagh, said later at the scene, where charred e-bikes and e-scooters were piled up under the store's yellow awning. She said there was "a very large number of both" inside. 

There has been an increasing number of fires caused by e-bikes and the batteries that power them, according to FDNY statistics provided Tuesday. So far this year, there have been at least 106 investigated by the FDNY, with 66 injuries and nine deaths. Over the same period last year, there were 98 investigations, 40 injuries and two deaths. E-bikes are used routinely to make food deliveries, particularly via apps.

Those statistics exclude Tuesday's fire, at 80 Madison St., located just off Catherine Street in the Two Bridges neighborhood. That fire was reported in a 911 call at about 12:13 a.m.; rescuers arrived to find the six-story commercial-residential structure fully engulfed in flames.

The tickets in August were related to improper charging of the batteries and dangerous electrical wiring; there was a guilty finding and a fine issued of $1,600, said the city's chief fire marshal, Dan Flynn. 

"Those were all related to the charging of the batteries and the number of batteries that they had at the location," he said. "So we have been aware of this location." 

The ticketing happened because of a tip. Kavanagh urged the public to call 311 if anyone sees a similarly questionable charging setup.

The six residents — two men and four women — were initially transported to hospitals, all in critical condition. Four were later declared dead.

Kavanagh said Tuesday's fire demonstrates "the sheer volume of fire" that can flare from exploding e-bike batteries.

"This exact scenario — where there is an e-bike store on the first floor and residences above and the volume of fire created by these lithium ion batteries — is incredibly deadly," she said, adding: "It can make it nearly impossible to get out in time."

The FDNY said 138 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the scene; The fire was finally brought under control at 2:36 a.m.

In March, Mayor Eric Adams signed into law signed legislation aimed at cutting down on the fires, including creating a fire marshal task force to identify violators through inspection and educating delivery cyclists about the dangers of the batteries.