'These fires are treacherous': FDNY releases new PSA as lithium-ion batteries continue to pose a threat

July 9, 2025

The FDNY is again reminding New Yorkers about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries in a new Public Service Announcement (PSA).

A lithium-ion battery was determined to be the cause of a fatal 2-alarm fire that happened Friday, July 4, 2025, in Queens. A 76-year-old woman was using the restroom inside a pizzeria when the battery on an e-bike exploded. The woman was transported to a hospital, where she later died.

"These e-mobility devices that the FDNY has been talking about for years can be extremely dangerous, and we had someone die in this fire," FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said. "It's the first death this year that we can attribute to a lithium-ion battery fire, and we are working so hard every day in the FDNY to message that e-mobility devices do not belong inside."

The FDNY reminds New Yorkers to CHARGE and STORE lithium-ion batteries and micromobility devices OUTSIDE, wherever possible. Go to FDNYSmart.org for safety information.

The Department's PSA program is made possible in part with support from the FDNY Foundation, the official nonprofit organization of the Department.