Saturday, October 10, 2026

Sources: E-bike battery sparks apartment fire on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The FDNY responded after 8 p.m. to a fire at 172 E. Fourth St., a 12-story residential building on the southwest corner of Avenue A. 

Sources at the scene said a lithium-ion battery overheated and the pack exploded inside a 10th-floor apartment. 

There was an initial report that a resident of the apartment suffered burns. We don't have further information at the moment on the person's condition.
The response brought a large FDNY presence to the intersection, with Avenue A shut down to traffic. Onlookers packed the sidewalk across the street in front of Key Food.
As firefighters checked adjacent apartments on the building's east side, the sound of breaking glass could be heard from the street.
It was not immediately clear how much damage the apartment or neighboring units sustained.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, I live on the 10th floor here. Everything reported above is correct. The resident of the apt where the fire started has been taken to hospital with what we have been told are minor burns. It is believed there are no other injuries. and that the source of the fire was a battery from an e-bike.

Anonymous said...

Now I know why my super gets upset when people leave these in the lobby.

Anonymous said...

They need to permanently ban these.

Anonymous said...

the whole city would be better if e-bikes and scooters were banned

Anonymous said...

There was a fire here a few months ago too. Glad the person is okay and it’s minor. Scary!

ck said...

i agree!

Anonymous said...

I am the resident who was in the apartment and burnt while trying to mitigate and slow down the damages, mostly 3rd degree burns on my left hand and right foot.
Bike was a super73 S2 with stock battery and stock electronics, i rode it and it was doing great like an hour before the incident.
Apartment is in really bad shape

Anonymous said...

To resident, thanks for the info and so sorry this happened to you!!

Anonymous said...

In the building I live in e-bikes are not allowed. But it’s also a smoke-free building and people still smoke.