December 17th, 2024
On December 3rd, two fires erupted overnight in a Midtown Manhattan e-bike rental store. New York's firefighters faced challenges handling the lithium-ion battery fire. The first blaze broke out around 3 a.m. at BinGit NYC Bike & Scooter Rental on West 38th Street. Firefighters battled intense flames fueled by batteries stored at the building. While extinguishing the first-floor fire, water flooded the basement, creating a second fire as more batteries ignited.
The NY Fire Chief confirmed the hazardous situation, stating hundreds of batteries were stored in the facility, making it a "significant charging and storage location" with immense risks. A hazmat team dismantled battery packages and soaked individual cells in fire-suppressant chemicals to avoid additional reignition. Despite these attempts, at least one container of cells caught fire again during handling. One firefighter incurred minor injuries and received treatment at Lenox Health Greenwich Village.
The business has received several citations for safety violations in the past. The Fire Marshal expressed frustration regarding the business's repeated non-compliance, stating the danger posed to the public and rescue personnel. The Fire Commissioner emphasized the risks associated with uncertified or malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries. He suggested proper storage, preventing overcharging, and, when possible, keeping batteries outdoors.
BinGit provides scooter and e-bike rentals as well as storage for delivery employees. The delivery workers arrived at the scene, anxiously awaiting news about whether their bikes had survived the fire. Many individuals store their bikes there for security, but now they are concerned about unsafe practices and the risks associated with unregulated batteries.
Risk Logic has published many articles on lithium batteries; please click here for our most recent article. RLI engineers identify fire and property loss exposures by conducting thorough property loss prevention surveys. Contact us for safe and reliable storage solutions for products containing lithium-ion batteries.
