POUGHKEEPSIE – The occupants of a South Cherry Street multi-family home in Poughkeepsie are being credited with saving the building after an e-bike caught fire in the hallway Monday night. Firefighters were dispatched to the reported fire at 9:40 p.m. on April 15.
Firefighters say the bike was being stored in the hallway of the two-family home when the lithium-ion battery ignited. The fire quickly burned hallway furniture and began charring the walls before an occupant was able to get the bike out of the house.
With the bike on the front lawn, firefighters notified the Dutchess County HAZMAT team that responded to handle the dangerous battery. Trained personnel had to cut the battery holder from the bike and then packed the battery into a specialized container that prevents the battery from continuing to burn.
The home sustained smoke and water damage. No injuries were reported.
The first responders were required to take special precautions because lithium-ion batteries, such as the ones used in e-bikes, emit toxic fluoride gas when burning.
New York City has been plagued by e-bike fires that have caused several related deaths.
E-bike safety tips from the FDNY. The same advice applies to any device powered by a lithium-ion battery, whether it’s a scooter, skateboard, phone, tablet, or robotic vacuum cleaner.
- Buy an electric bike that is certified by a qualified testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratory. The same applies to other devices powered by a lithium-ion battery.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.
- Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the bike.
- Do not leave an electric bike unattended while it’s charging, and don’t leave it charging overnight.
- If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, a change in shape or color, leaking, or odd noises, stop using it immediately.
- If the battery reacts in an alarming way, and it is safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911.
- Keep batteries and devices at room temperature. Do not place them in direct sunlight.
- Store batteries away from anything flammable.
- Do not use aftermarket batteries.
- Do not charge an electronic device under your pillow, on your bed, or near a couch.
- Do not block your primary way into and out of the building with an e-bike or other device.
- Do not leave an e-bike in a child’s room (or, say CR safety advocates, bedrooms in general)
