A lithium-ion battery powering an electric scooter is being blamed for sparking a 5-alarm fire at a New York City supermarket.
The New York City Fire Department said video surveillance showed the scooter igniting inside the store. Smoke was visible from miles away. The store was declared a complete destruction.
“The video is chilling. When you saw how fast this fire started and spread, it just really gives you a point of pause,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams says.
Fire fighters recovered the charred e-scooter for inspection to see what caused the battery to explode.
Battery-sparked fires involving electric bikes and scooters have sparked 25 fires, causing 36 injuries and two deaths in the city since late February, according to a New York City television station. The cause of most of the fires, the station reported, have been caused by malfunctioning devices charging overnight in hallways or near doors.
Dave Lubach is the managing editor of the Facilities Market.
