An e-bike shop in Queens experienced a fire early Thursday, resulting in one firefighter getting injured, according to FDNY officials. The cause of the blaze is believed to be the lithium-ion batteries, which have been known to cause problems.
A devastating fire engulfed Kings Electric Scooters on Jamaica Avenue at approximately 2:30 a.m., according to officials.
According to the department, A firefighter battling the blaze was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.
Following the recent legislation passed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, hazmat units were dispatched to the location due to the discovery of lithium-ion batteries.
Fortunately, the fire was brought under control in less than an hour, according to the FDNY.
“The fire was pretty quickly controlled,” FDNY Deputy Chief George Healy said on scene. “We made searches. We removed some occupants from the second-floor residence.”
The department is still investigating the official cause.
“But there were e-bikes involved, so probably this is going to be another lithium-ion battery fire,” Healy said.
Footage captured at the scene reveals a heap of e-bikes emitting smoke on the sidewalk adjacent to the store.
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According to records from the Department of Buildings, a vacate order was issued for the cellar on Thursday morning. This was a result of an illegal occupancy and conversion.
Last month, Hochul announced a crackdown after nearly 270 fires, resulting in the tragic loss of 18 lives, were linked to the batteries in New York City over the past year.
New regulations now mandate that e-bikes, mopeds, and other micro-mobility devices must display a prominent red tag as a reminder to unplug them once they are fully charged. The new law now mandates additional safety measures for emergency responders and sellers.
Dealers are now required to register mopeds upon sale, a measure aimed at curbing the activities of scooter-riding bandits who have been targeting unsuspecting pedestrians, according to police.
