When Caleb Matthews’ mom went on vacation, leaving the teen to look after the family’s Brooklyn apartment and pets, he relied on his e-bike as a key to his independence.
But the bike’s battery exploded, killing the family’s dog and two cats and ending Matthews’ life in a fiery blaze in the Albany Houses on Aug. 28th.
“As a family it is tremendously hard,” said the victim’s aunt, who gave her name only as Claudia. “It still feels unreal.”
The FDNY has confirmed the 7 p.m. blaze in the family’s 12th-floor NYCHA apartment on Troy Ave. near Bergen St. in Crown Heights was sparked by a lithium-ion battery.
Matthews was charging his e-bike so that he could visit his grandmother in Queens when its battery exploded, according to his aunt.
Nicholas Williams / New York Daily News
Broken windows are seen in a building in NYCHA’s Albany Houses in Crown Heights after a fatal e-bike battery fire. (Nicholas Williams / New York Daily News)
The e-bike “was another part of the independence he was just beginning to experience”, according to a GoFundMe created by the family to cover the teen’s funeral expenses.
“Caleb said riding it made him feel free. It gave him the chance to explore more of New York, get around on his own, and experience more of the city without having to depend on anyone else.”
“He was goofy, always cracking jokes, and had a way of making people laugh just by being himself,” the GoFundMe adds.
The GoFundMe also aims to support Matthews’ grieving mom, who lost her son and also pets and all her possessions. She was visiting relatives in Guyana when the blaze broke out and rushed home on an early flight. Her home remains uninhabitable.
Courtesy of family
Caleb Matthews, 18, died in an Aug. 28 e-bike battery fire in Brooklyn. (Courtesy of family)
Her son recently celebrated several milestones in his young life. He had just turned 18 on Aug. 7 and had recently graduated high school with honors. “He had recently earned his driver’s license and was excited to buy his first car, work on it with his own hands, and slowly turn it into the dream car he had imagined,” the GoFundMe says.
“So much of his life was just beginning. Florida was supposed to be his next chapter. Moving to Japan was the dream after that. Caleb loved Japan and often talked about wanting to move there one day. It was one of his biggest life goals. He had plans.”
Claudia said Matthews graduated early from York Early College Academy in South Jamaica, Queens, in February. He planned to go to college and potentially study engineering. His passions included anime, basketball, building cars, video games, nature, traveling, fashion and caring for his pets.
“He should be remembered as a funny, caring, beautiful soul who lit up every room he entered,” Claudia said. “He was very generous at heart and never shy away from a challenge.”
Matthews died after being rushed to Interfaith Medical Center.
“Our anchor is on God and we trust and believe that Jesus will bring us through,” his aunt said.
The family is also mourning Jahraiah, who the GoFundMe describes as “their tiny Yorkie with a huge personality” and their cats, Karama and Tegan.
“Karama was shy and trusted Caleb more than anyone else,” the GoFundMe says. “Tegan was affectionate in his own way and happily lived in his own little world. They were part of the family.”
Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News
The NYCHA Albany Houses in Brooklyn. (Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News)
Matthews’ death marks the second fatal fire in the city this year caused by a lithium-ion battery. The first fatality occurred in late June when an e-bike caught fire in a Queens apartment, killing a 48-year-old man.
“Lithium-ion battery fires can happen quickly and become devastating, and many people do not realize the risk until it is too late,” the GoFundMe for Matthews says. “Please share Caleb’s story and help spread awareness about lithium-ion battery safety. If his story helps even one person recognize the danger sooner or take extra precautions, it could save a life.”
Deaths related to lithium-ion battery fires have steadily decreased in New York City since explosions caused by the devices killed 18 people in 2023. In 2024, six people died due to battery fires, while only one person was killed in a lithium-ion battery fire in 2025.
While fatal fires remain low, the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries have still increased about 70% this year.
FDNY officials noted at a press conference in July that an increasing amount of battery-related fires are happening outdoors, with 137 non-structural fires in 2026 as compared to 48 at this time last year.
“We strongly believe e-bikes should be regulated more and not be charged inside homes,” Claudia said.