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.
According to the FDNY, the fire trapped the 48-year-old resident inside the home, forcing him to escape through a bedroom window.
The man was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The FDNY said the fatality is the first death in 2026 connected to a lithium-ion battery fire that occurred this year.
The department continues to urge the public to charge and store lithium-ion batteries and micromobility devices outdoors whenever possible. Officials also advise against charging batteries overnight and warn residents not to block exits while charging devices.
Key Points
- A 48-year-old man died after a lithium-ion battery fire in a Queens basement apartment.
- FDNY investigators determined the fire started from a battery charging in the kitchen.
- The death is the first in New York City this year linked to a lithium-ion battery fire.