Apr. 3, 2025 By Colum Motherway Council Member Robert Holden spearheaded a rally on Wednesday, April 2, to oppose the proposed construction of a large-scale lithium-ion battery storage facility at 64-30 69th Place in Middle Village, directly across from PS/IS 128. The rally, which brought together local residents, political leaders, and concerned parents, demonstrated…
Mar. 28, 2025 By Colum Motherway Council Member Robert Holden is raising concerns over the proposed construction of a large-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage facility at 64-30 69th Place in Middle Village, directly across from PS/IS 128. The site is in a densely populated residential neighborhood and is situated next to an animal hospital,…
Aug. 22, 2024 By Bill Parry The FDNY battled a fire at a Richmond Hill e-bike store early Thursday morning for the second time in 17 months. Once again, a Hazmat unit was called on to deal with the presence of lithium-ion batteries after one of the batteries caused the blaze that engulfed the…
Jul. 23, 2024 By Mayor Eric Adams New York is the safest big city in America, and we are working hard every day to keep New Yorkers safe from all kinds of dangers — including those posed by lithium-ion battery fires. While the rise of battery-powered mobility devices has had many positive effects, too…
Jul. 13, 2024 By Robert Pozarycki Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, the first woman ever to lead the New York City Fire Department, is resigning her post, amNewYork Metro confirmed on Saturday. The New York Post first reported on July 13 that Kavanagh sent them an email Saturday notifying them of her decision. Kavanagh made…
May. 7, 2024 By Bill Parry
FDNY fire marshals arrested the manager of a Forest Hills bike shop last week after several lithium-ion batteries exploded while they were being removed from the store by Hazmat units.
Apr. 16, 2024 By Bill Parry
The FDNY announced Monday that a 2-alarm fire that tore through an Ozone Park deli on Sunday morning was caused by exploding uncertified lithium-ion batteries.
Feb. 8, 2024 By Bill Parry
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh was in Forest Hills Thursday morning to announce that an e-scooter shop on Queens Boulevard had been temporarily shut down after being found to be not just selling illegal lithium-ion batteries but manufacturing them as well in a storefront directly above a subway station.
Jan. 8, 2024 By Bill Parry and by Lloyd Mitchell A two-alarm fire that broke out in a commercial building in South Richmond Hill on Saturday night was caused by an exploding lithium-ion battery that saw nearly two dozen e-bikes erupt in flames, according to the FDNY. Fire marshals based their determination on a digital…
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A wave of fires caused by e-bike batteries is spurring landlords and co-op boards across the city to consider outright bans or restrictions of the batteries inside their buildings.