On June 26, an all-hands fire broke out inside a basement apartment in a private dwelling in Queens. FDNY Fire Marshals determined the cause of the fire to be a lithium-ion battery that was charging in the kitchen of the fire apartment. The fire trapped a 48-year-old man inside the home, who had to escape through a bedroom window. The victim later died at a hospital.<\/p>\n
This is the first death in 2026 connected to a lithium-ion battery fire that happened this year.<\/p>\n
Where possible, charge and store lithium-ion batteries or micromobility devices OUTSIDE. Do not charge them overnight, and do not block any exits. It can mean the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n