Fire Concerns Over Lithium Batteries

A fire that killed three generations of the same family in Brooklyn has raised an alarm over the safety of cheap lithium batteries imported from China and other sources that don't live up to U.S. safety standards.

"There is blood on the hands of this private industry," New York Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said in response to the 17 deaths in the city this year from E-bike and scooter batteries bursting into flames. "The volume of fire we see from these batteries creates untenable conditions both for residents to get out, but also for firefighters to get in," Kavanagh said. The battery fires have spiked fire deaths in the five boroughs to 93, the most in decades.

On Long Island, where residents depend less on E-vehicles for transportation and delivery services than the more densely populated city, battery fires have not been a problem. "Thankfully, we haven't seen the fires that the city has suffered," said Medford Fire Commissioner Joseph DeStefano, who noted a concern over large-scale energy storage facilities using battery technology. To minimize the risks to their operations, airlines and post offices have regulations aimed at lithium batteries and other power storage devices.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, rechargeable batteries contain flammable mixtures that conduct an electrical current. In normal operation, the units generate a small amount of heat. When they malfunction from overcharging, short circuits, or extreme temperatures, they can generate smoke, fire, or burst into flames. "When fires occur, they also tend to burn very hot and can be difficult for firefighters to extinguish," the fire protection agency reports.

Recognizing the problem, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced a $25 million federal grant to fund safer charging stations in city public housing. "Poorly made batteries can explode and cause fires," Schumer said, pointing out that most battery fires are caused by cheap Chinese imports.

File Photo

Standing outside of the burned-out shell of the Brooklyn home, Commissioner Kavanagh blamed big corporations for contributing to a rising death toll from the batteries. "Private industry can take action that would immediately save lives," she said. Online retailers persist in selling batteries that don't meet safety standards or falsely claim to do so, according to the commissioner. The popularity of food delivery services has created a business opportunity so profitable that, despite her department's enforcement efforts, low-cost and dangerous batteries, bikes, and scooters continue to proliferate. "When inspectors close one shop that distributes these products, another pops up to replace it," she said.

Nassau County has seen seven lithium-ion fires resulting in at least one death and seven injuries so far this year, according to Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro. He noted that saltwater can short-circuit batteries, which was the cause of a fire last year in Freeport. "Fire codes have not kept up with the technology," Uttaro said.

To stay safe, the National Fire Protection Association urges residents to use devices, batteries, and chargers that are listed with a nationally recognized testing lab and only use the batteries and chargers that come with your device. Charge one unit at a time, and do not leave your devices near combustible material; keep them out of hallways, and do not block exits. "If there is a fire, you've blocked the way for you to escape," the association stresses.