An early-morning inferno ripped through a three-story building in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, sending thick smoke over Ridgewood Avenue and pulling a heavy FDNY presence to the block well before dawn. Firefighters spent the pre-dawn hours beating back the main body of the fire and venting the structure. By about 2:13 a.m., officials said the blaze was under control, though smoke and stubborn hot spots were still hanging on.
According to PIX11, the fire broke out at 503 Ridgewood Avenue, where FDNY officials said roughly 79 fire and EMS personnel responded. Hazmat units were called in after crews found a stash of lithium-ion batteries inside the building, the station reported, and fire marshals said the cause remains under investigation. Officials did not immediately report any serious injuries.
Hazmat Call Highlights Growing Battery Headaches
Specialized hazmat teams are increasingly tapped when lithium batteries enter the mix, since damaged or poorly stored cells can slip into thermal runaway and flare back up without warning. City efforts to roll out safer public charging and battery-swap options are aimed at cutting down on risky at-home charging and bad disposal habits, according to NYC DOT. Recent neighborhood coverage has flagged several battery-linked incidents across Brooklyn this spring, a trend that helps explain why crews treated the Ridgewood Avenue fire as a full hazmat situation (garbage truck inferno).
Fire marshals were expected to go back through the building in daylight to determine whether the batteries or some other ignition source sparked the blaze, with any findings to be released after their review. Streets around the block were shut down while crews pulled out smoldering debris and checked neighboring units for smoke and water damage. City agencies typically step in to help any displaced residents with emergency needs while the investigation plays out.
For now, officials say the cause is still under investigation and are urging anyone with video or information to share it with investigators. They are also reminding residents to stick to city guidelines for storing and disposing of lithium batteries. More details are expected once FDNY and the Office of the Fire Marshal finish their inspection and evidence work.
