A lithium-ion battery caught fire inside the Brooklyn Public Library’s Williamsburgh branch Sunday afternoon, sending smoke across the ground floor and briefly turning a quiet library into a hazy scene, fire officials said. Staff hustled the battery outside before firefighters arrived, and FDNY crews quickly put out the flames with no injuries and no obvious structural damage. The fire was reported at about 12:50 p.m., and firefighters ventilated the building to clear the smoke.
FDNY units were dispatched after reports of a lithium-ion battery fire at the Williamsburgh branch, according to News 12 New York. The outlet noted that e-bikes were visible outside the building after the incident, though investigators had not immediately confirmed which specific device the battery came from.
Battery Fires Have Become a Citywide Concern
Across New York City, lithium-ion batteries, especially uncertified or modified packs used in some e-bikes and scooters, have been linked to a steep rise in dangerous fires in recent years. Through April 2024 there had already been hundreds of battery-related fires across the five boroughs, resulting in numerous injuries and several deaths, THE CITY reported. Officials say common risk factors include unsafe charging practices, the use of aftermarket batteries, and charging high-capacity packs indoors.
What the City Is Doing
City agencies have launched several efforts aimed at cutting down on these hazards, including a Department of Transportation trade-in program for delivery workers and pilot projects for supervised public charging and battery-swap cabinets. The DOT’s 2025 announcement frames the trade-in program and charging pilots as a push to remove uncertified batteries from circulation and replace them with UL-certified systems, according to NYC DOT. Fire officials continue to urge New Yorkers to follow safe charging, storage, and disposal guidelines for lithium-ion batteries.
At the Williamsburgh branch, FDNY said crews knocked down the small fire before it could cause structural problems or harm anyone, and staff had already taken the battery outside the building by the time firefighters arrived, according to News 12 New York. Officials had not immediately said whether the branch’s hours or programming were affected. This story will be updated if more details are released.
