A fire on Tuesday afternoon in a Northwest D.C. apartment building, caused by lithium-ion batteries in a charging scooter, critically injured one person and left over two dozen homeless. This incident marks the second recent fire in D.C. related to lithium-ion batteries. The growing concern over the dangers of these batteries has prompted legislative and safety responses, including the New York City Council passing new safety laws after 267 blazes last year resulted in 18 deaths and 150 injuries. The federal government is examining the risks, with a House hearing on the dangers of electric vehicle fires for first responders. Meanwhile, New York City has launched the nation's first public e-bike charging site for delivery workers, amidst concerns over plans to double e-bike power.
New York City officials are hoping that a new public charging station for e-bikes will help reduce the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. https://t.co/I8GMDNx9mq
A high school student was hospitalized Thursday morning after a cellphone exploded at Roosevelt High School in D.C. https://t.co/zaHdUT3OES
More progress has been made in the fight to prevent lithium-ion battery fires, deaths, and injuries. @fdnyfc Laura Kavanagh joined the @NYCDOT, @NYCEDC & @helloDWCP to unveil an outdoor e-battery charging site in Cooper Square. This will be 1 of 5 charging locations in the city. https://t.co/Q5qY9Bydo0
More progress has been made in the fight to prevent lithium-ion battery fires, deaths, and injuries. @fdnyfc Laura Kavanagh joined the @NYCDOT, @NYCEDC and @NYCDWCP to unveil an outdoor e-battery charging site in Cooper Square. This will be 1 of 5 charging locations in the city. https://t.co/Z7YbCWInWi
🚲 E-bike power may double despite deadly threat from battery fires. Read more here 👇 https://t.co/OB4jE21c7o
As part of the “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” action plan to reduce accidents with ion batteries, New York City has activated the city's first e-battery charging location in the East Village. The pilot program will have five sites that will be used by 100 delivery workers for 6… https://t.co/MMuS0Fp5Ut
We're making e-bike charging safer for delivery workers. Today we launched the nation's first public e-bike charging pilot for delivery workers, which allows an initial group of 100 to safely charge e-bikes in Cooper Square, with more locations opening in the coming weeks. https://t.co/4mMkIF3oU9
E-bike batteries started 267 fires in New York City last year. These swapping stations are designed to help https://t.co/m6N5XUMnf7
Safety fears over Government plans to double power of electric bikes https://t.co/WYc8clB42u https://t.co/FmGMfUVpLx
Join us as we activate the nation's first public e-bike charging site for delivery workers. https://t.co/Mr2ScSVwzW
Plans to double e-bike power 'could cause severe fires' https://t.co/YdXB1ZVL4R
These are images of the cellphone that exploded at Roosevelt HS, injuring 1 person. One again, we dealt with a lithium-ion battery failure. For those who charge their phones in bed or under the pillow, Don’t! #DCsBravest https://t.co/2c8XIcv4Ck
"Emergency response to EV fires requires specialized training, equipment, and methodologies due to the unique characteristics of lithium-ion batteries. Responders must be prepared to handle high-voltage systems, toxic gases, and the risk of thermal runaway." - @SBCFireChief
New York City rolls out new e-bike charging stations for delivery workers https://t.co/XMFxfNIhBN
Jeevarajan of @UL_Standards on "the potential for lithium-ion cells to undergo catastrophic failures that can generate fire and toxic gases when they fail to be designed, manufactured, charged, or used correctly." https://t.co/GpxDWfI67J
"Lithium-ion batteries are an important part of our future and we are several years behind in our fire services ability to educate, regulate, and respond to potential emergencies involving lithium-ion batteries." - @SBCFireChief
During his opening statement, @JayObernolte pointed to the need for the federal government to provide clear guidelines and resources to help combat EV fires, which pose special challenges when compared to internal combustion engines. Read here: https://t.co/MQTmXLvhf0
There is currently no available data that suggests electric vehicles (EVs) are more likely to catch fire than traditional vehicles-but when these fires do occur, they present unique risks, and we must prepare firefighters with the resources they need to address that.
HAPPENING SOON: AT 1030AM Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight Ranking Member @ValerieFoushee joins in holding a hearing titled, "Examining the Risk: The Dangers of Electric Vehicle (EV) Fires for First Responders." https://t.co/3ZE5TJLcaU
Electric vehicle fires pose special challenges not found in combustion vehicle fires. Today’s Investigations & Oversight Subcommittee hearing will examine how to safely and effectively fight these fires. Tune in at 10:30 👇 https://t.co/c9eqDqLHkd
Box Alarm Roosevelt HS 4301 13th St NW. cellphone exploded. No fire. Evaluating 1 injured person minor injuries. Fire investigators requested. This is believed to be lithium-ion battery related. #DCsBravest
House hearing today entitled, “Examining the Risk: The Dangers of EV Fires for First Responders”
NEW: we’ve learned that DfT plans to consult on *doubling* the permitted power of e-bikes (250w to 500w) despite worries about the potential impact on road safety and the potential for more battery-caused fires. https://t.co/7hE3vVyoV6
New York City Council passed new safety laws Wednesday in an attempt to confront the growing dangers of lithium-ion batteries. @ZinniaDee_TV reports. https://t.co/6DZw5NkVV8
An apartment fire in Northwest D.C. that left 23 people displaced on Tuesday, Feb. 27 was caused by a lithium-ion battery-powered scooter, Fire officials said. https://t.co/MHwECpgi16
DC Fire Marshal discusses the dangers and precautions to take with Lithium-ion batteries. #DCsBravest https://t.co/ysFEcqpruZ
Fazil Khan was a passionate young journalist with his entire life ahead of him. My heart goes out to his family. Far too many families have lost their loved ones to lithium-ion battery fires. We must act now to set strict safety standards to prevent even more tragedies. https://t.co/fryEAIuyfH
Today, the Council held its Stated Meeting, passing legislation to improve regulations for lithium-ion batteries and mitigate deadly fires, simplify mobile vendor requirements, and more! Read about all the legislation passed at today’s Stated Meeting: https://t.co/hPYz4gNN2v https://t.co/Nf51vKSQ69
NYC Council passes bills beefing up penalties for illegal sales of uncertified batteries, including padlocking stores caught hawking 267 blazes across NYC last year, 18 deaths, 150 injuries. Friday, journalist Fazil Khan died in a wild battery explosion https://t.co/JFJod2v01V
Today, @NYCCouncil voted to: 📄 Improve fire safety by advancing additional lithium-ion battery regulations 📄 Simplify mobile vendor requirements 📄 Prohibit vendors from selling goods in bike lanes 📄 And more! https://t.co/EuXQdIxy7f
🎉Proud to share that the @NYCCouncil passed three bills I sponsored as Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. The legislation modernizes #streetvending regulations in #NYC. Thank you @NYCSpeakerAdams for bringing this to a vote. 1/2 https://t.co/UQSTa8zKfP
The lithium ion battery on an electric scooter was the cause of a fire that burned through a three-story apartment building on Tuesday – critically injuring one person and leaving 23 people without a home, investigators said Wednesday. https://t.co/k472DZiC3L
Councilman @dr_yusefsalaam talks at length about the recent death by fire of a Harlemite, but not a word about the deadly lithium ion e-bike battery that started the fire. These batteries have pushed fire deaths to new high after years of decline. @nicolegelinas
Yet another fire due to lithium-ion batteries. We need better regulations on these devices immediately! https://t.co/sjeapzDcpB
Lithium-ion batteries are a fact of life. They can be found in many devices we use daily, but improper use or damage can lead to tragedy. Check out this video and see for yourself the dangers involved. #DCsBravest https://t.co/CxFRl2c3qM
Lithium-ion batteries are a fact of life. They can be found in many devices we use daily, but improper use or damage can lead to tragedy #DCsBravest https://t.co/tf7GqqR0xr
FIRE SAFETY: I am advancing legislation that would establish mandatory safety standards for the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, which have emerged as the fastest-growing cause of fires in NYC. From @CBSNewYork: https://t.co/pMcyZnhy55
Update: An electric scooter’s lithium-ion batteries caused the D.C. apartment building fire that displaced 23 residents and seriously hurt someone, officials say. Here are safety tips. https://t.co/XRvA4yJzyZ
Remains of scooter that was origin of the Peabody St fire. It was powered by lithium-ion batteries that go into thermal runaway & ignite with explosive force if improperly charged, overcharged, or charged with a knock-off device, resulting in a serious fire. #DCsBravest https://t.co/Dydeh2Low0
Fire investigators confirm lithium-ion batteries in a charging scooter caused yesterday’s Peabody St fire leaving 1 critical and over 2 dozen homeless. 2nd recent fire in DC of this nature. Never charge these devices where they block your egress from the home. #DCsBravest https://t.co/EkODOHRi3L
A fire left one person critically injured and 23 without a home after it ripped through an apartment building in Northwest D.C. on Tuesday afternoon. https://t.co/Zqyb6e3FfF