MOTT HAVEN, Bronx (WABC) — An 11-year-old boy who died in a Bronx apartment fire sparked by an e-scooter battery has been identified as Zion Maine, as four of his family members remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday.
Fire officials said the blaze broke out shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday inside an 11th-floor apartment at the Patterson Houses in Mott Haven. Investigators determined an e-scooter equipped with a lithium-ion battery near the apartment’s front door caused the fire, trapping the family inside as flames and smoke spread through the unit.
Officials said Maine died after being rushed to a hospital. Four relatives survived but remain hospitalized.
A 15-year-old boy and a 33-year-old woman were taken to Lincoln Hospital and are described by law enforcement sources as brain-dead. A second boy, believed to be between 12 and 16 years old, remains in critical condition. A 37-year-old man remains hospitalized in critical condition at Harlem Hospital, where he is being treated in the burn ICU and has shown some improvement while in a medically induced coma.
The mother of a man critically injured in the deadly fire is pushing back against criticism directed at her son as her family copes with the loss of Maine and injuries to several relatives.
Regina Robinson said her son and one grandchild remain critically injured, while another grandson, 11-year-old Zion Maine, was killed in the fire Wednesday.
Robinson said she does not believe her son would have knowingly put his family at risk.
“If he actually knew that this was going to happen, he would never put his kids and his family in danger,” Robinson said.
She expressed concern that her son may blame himself for the tragedy.
“When my son wakes up, if he wakes up, he’s going to blame himself for this because he’s the man of the house,” Robinson said.
Fire officials said the e-scooter was stored near the apartment’s front door. Intense flames blocked the exit and hindered firefighters’ efforts to reach those inside.
Robinson questioned why blame has been directed at her son.
“Thirty percent of my son’s body is burnt up and they want to blame him. Why?” she said.
Lithium-ion battery fires continue to pose a deadly danger in New York City. Officials said there have been more than 400 such fires this year, resulting in six deaths.
The issue of safely storing e-bikes and e-scooters remains a challenge as the devices have become an important means of transportation and a vital tool for delivery workers.
On Thursday, local leaders addressed the need for solutions.
“This is absolutely preventable. And, you know, so I think that it’s coming upon us to do the work to find those solutions,” said NYC Council District 8 representative Elsie Encarnacion.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said e-bikes remain an important part of daily life for many New Yorkers.
“For many New Yorkers, these bikes are a part of their livelihood. This is something that is going to continue to be a part of our lives. We ask New Yorkers to stay as safe as possible, and we’re going to look at there’s any other way for us to help them,” Mamdani said.
As investigators continue examining the fire, Robinson said her focus remains on the recovery of her son and injured family members while mourning the loss of her grandson.
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