A 69-year-old American man lost his life in a fire that devastated his home. According to The New York Post, the blaze was activated by a defective lithium-ion battery from an e-scooter in the Brooklyn apartment.
The wild fire, which occurred in a second-floor unit on Brighton 3rd Street near Brightwater Court in Brighton Beach, was so fierce that it blocking the exit, leading to the man's death.
A 32-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man, also present during the incident, were sent to the hospital after they attempted to extinguish the flames—a dangerous action when dealing with a battery fire, according to authorities.
"They tried to put out the fire themselves and managed to escape with minor injuries," FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn told everyone. "2 children were also able to evacuate safely without injuries."
"I strongly advise against trying to tackle these fires yourself," the FDNY official strictly warned. "Even regular fire extinguishers are ineffective in these situations."
A total of 12 FDNY units, which included 60 firefighters and EMS personnel, responded to the emergency.
"When lithium-ion battery catches fire, it results in a far more horrendous and complex situation," stated FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito. "Luckily, our firefighters were able to deploy the lines quickly and extinguish the fire before it spread to other apartments."