A Sunday afternoon blaze at the NYCHA Mill Brook Houses turned into a lithium battery scare, after firefighters discovered batteries inside a fifth-floor apartment in the South Bronx, officials said.
The fire broke out around 1 p.m. on the building’s fifth floor, pushing residents out onto the street and forcing a halt to elevator service while crews moved in on the flames. More than 100 firefighters responded as windows were shattered to vent the smoke, and neighbors described thick smoke choking the stairwells. The FDNY said no injuries were reported.
Residents were stuck outside as firefighters worked, watching and waiting for updates. One neighbor, identified only as Tiffany, told reporters she saw “white smoke in the stairwell,” according to News 12.
On the same fifth floor where the fire started, crews spotted three e-bikes and a motorcycle parked in the hallway. A man who removed one of the e-bikes declined to answer questions about whether it was connected to the fire, News 12 reported. Fire officials said the discovery of lithium-ion batteries inside the apartment complicated both the firefight and the investigation into what sparked the blaze.
FDNY Issues Battery Safety Warnings
The FDNY has been sounding the alarm for months over the fire risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, especially when they are damaged, modified or stored improperly. In a safety bulletin, the department warns that these batteries can ignite suddenly and fuel fast-moving, highly destructive fires.
In public messaging, FDNY has cautioned that “one battery can cause a 5-alarm fire” and urges New Yorkers to buy only certified batteries and steer clear of makeshift repairs.
Citywide Spike Adds Pressure
Officials say the Mill Brook incident is part of a troubling pattern. Investigators told News 12 that so far this year, 75 fires across the city have been linked to lithium batteries, and three people have died as a result. Those numbers are significantly higher than last year, adding pressure on regulators and building managers to respond.
Fire officials have advised residents not to charge batteries overnight, to keep charging equipment away from exits, and to report questionable battery repair operations to authorities.
The department is also asking New Yorkers to report unsafe battery storage or suspected home-based repair workshops by calling 311 or 212-NEW-YORK, and recommends charging certified batteries outdoors and away from anything that can burn, according to a press release from FDNY.
Officials have not said whether NYCHA plans to change any building rules at Mill Brook in response to the fire, and News 12 reported there were no immediate indications of charges or arrests tied to the incident. Neighbors said they were shaken by how quickly the situation escalated but relieved that everyone made it out without injuries.
