Queens townhouse fire that injured 4 people sparked by lithium-ion battery: officials​on January 25, 2025 at 4:51 am

FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) — A fire at a townhouse fire in Flushing, Queens that left four people injured, including one firefighter, was sparked by a lithium-ion battery, according to FDNY fire marshals.

The freezing temperatures hampered the fight against a fire that broke out on 60th Avenue near 146th Street just before 5:30 a.m. on Friday.

As they battled the flames, firefighters encountered frozen hydrants, so they were forced to run water lines from neighboring blocks.

“The first companies got there and they had heavy fire coming out the first floor. When they stretched their hose, they had a frozen hydrant in front of the building, so they had to go up and find another hydrant up the road, so there was a delay in water. We have water in the fire engine, the booster, so they were able to use that water until the chauffeur was able to secure a working hydrant that was further up the block. Engine 273 was faced with heavy fire down on the first floor. They put out a lot of fire down there,” said Chief Christopher Paolicelli, Division 14, FDNY.

Two residents of a neighboring home were treated for serious exposure to smoke. A third resident slipped and fell while evacuating to the street. One firefighter was also hurt.

All are expected to survive.

“At the same time, Ladder Company 129 had two victims coming out the rear of the exposure with smoke inhalation. The companies put out the fire, and then saw that it was multiple e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries that had been on fire,” Chief Paolicelli said.

At least six e-bikes were found in the basement along with parts and tools, indications of a possible e-bike repair operation.

Nearly two dozen lithium-ion batteries were pulled out of the basement and piled up on a driveway along with several of the charred and melted e-bikes.

FDNY fire marshals said the fire was sparked by a lithium-ion battery.

The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.

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