Four people have died and at least three others are in critical condition after a fire broke out at an e-bike shop in Lower Manhattan early Tuesday, authorities said.
Two women and two men died in the fire, which broke out around 12.15pm this morning on the first floor of a six story building at 80 Madison Street.
Officials determined that two of the victims were a 71-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman, and an unidentified man and woman.
A 65-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man were also taken to nearby hospitals in critical condition.
The mangled and charred remains of bicycles and scooters lay in a heap after the deadly fire.
Police cordon tape was seen cordoning off the area while passers-by watched the ash-covered scene.
Four people have died and at least three others are in critical condition after a fire broke out at an e-bike shop in Lower Manhattan early Tuesday
Two women and two men died in the fire, which broke out around 12.15pm this morning on the first floor of a six story building at 80 Madison Street
Heavy smoke billowed from the store several hours earlier as firefighters pulled residents off the block and piled dozens of burned e-bikes outside the headquarters’ e-bike repair shop.
A total of nine people were initially classified as injured in the inferno, the New York Fire Department said. Among them were a firefighter and a paramedic, both of whom suffered minor injuries.
All of the victims were taken to local hospitals, including New York Presbyterian Hospital Cornell’s burns ward, Bellevue Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, the FDNY said.
“We arrived in just about four minutes. “We discovered a serious fire in an e-bike shop on the first floor,” deputy assistant chief John Sarrocco told ABC 7.
“Unfortunately, there was heavy smoke throughout the building,” he added.
One of the witnesses is the owner of a nearby deli. He told CBS New York, “I get out and I see there’s a huge flame coming out of the gate.” I call the fire department, they’ll be there in 10 minutes.
The mangled and charred remains of bicycles and scooters lay in a heap after the deadly fire
Police cordon tape was seen cordoning off the area while passers-by watched the ash-covered scene
About 33 units were deployed, including 138 firefighters and rescue workers
Commuters walking past the crime scene in the morning could see a bicycle graveyard
“When they got here, the flames just got bigger and stronger… It was a mess.”
Another witness, Belal Alayah, told ABC 7: “A friend of mine walked in and yelled, ‘There’s a fire next door.’
“I step outside and see the flames so hot they’re shooting through the metal gate.” “I knew it was the bike shop so I called the fire brigade but the fire got bigger and it took a while until it could be erased.”
Dozens of e-bikes and e-scooters were stacked in front of the store while firefighters continued their work in the smoke-filled building.
About 33 units were deployed, including 138 firefighters and rescue workers.
The inferno was brought under control at around 2:30 a.m. The fire department said the cause is still being investigated.
At least two women were in critical condition and a third was also hospitalized when smoke billowed from the store
Around 12:15 p.m. this morning, a fire broke through the shutters of HQ E-Bike Repair at 80 Madison Street
A total of nine people were initially classified as injured in the inferno, the New York Fire Department said
Located at 80 Madison Street in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York, HQ E-Bike Repair offers electric bicycle and scooter sales and service
Belal Alayah, who works at Catherine Deli & Bagels on the corner of the store, captured this video of the fire after calling 911. You see two NYPD officers helping the FDNY alert people in the apartments above to evacuate. @NY1 pic.twitter.com/oSeTrMao6n
— Alyssa Paolicelli (@APaolicelli17) June 20, 2023
The National Fire Protection Association points out that despite their popularity, e-bikes and e-scooters are highly flammable due to their lithium-ion battery.
“Many users are not aware that the batteries of e-bikes and e-scooters can also catch fire and cause explosions,” the association notes.
The association also adds: “While there are no national or international statistics on how often e-bikes or e-scooters catch fire, it does happen regularly – and the numbers are rising.”
“The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has reported more than 130 such fires so far in 2022. These fires have resulted in five deaths and dozens of injuries.” “In 2019, the first year FDNY began tracking e-bike fires, only 13 were reported.”