Queens man dies after lithium ion battery fire traps him in basement apartment

FDNY says charging battery sparked fatal blaze in private home

QUEENS, NY — A 48-year-old man died after a lithium-ion battery caught fire while charging inside a basement apartment, trapping him as flames tore through the home and marking New York City’s first lithium-ion battery fire death of the year, according to the FDNY.

The fire broke out on June 26 inside a basement apartment in a private dwelling in Queens and escalated to an all-hands response by firefighters.

Following an investigation, FDNY Fire Marshals determined the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery that was charging in the kitchen of the basement apartment.

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