A three-alarm blaze tore through a basement apartment in a seven-story Queens building on June 26, trapping a 48-year-old man who was pulled out by firefighters, hospitalized, and later died. Crews fought heavy smoke and fast-moving flames inside the unit before rescuing the resident, in a fire that has again put a spotlight on the risks of charging high-capacity batteries indoors across New York City.
On June 26, a 3-alarm fire broke out inside a basement apartment in a seven-story building in Queens. FDNY Fire Marshals determined the cause of the fire to be a lithium-ion battery that was charging in the kitchen of the fire apartment. The fire trapped a 48-year-old man inside… pic.twitter.com/07YS2PxxSa
— FDNY (@FDNY) July 22, 2026
FDNY: Battery In Kitchen Sparked Blaze
Fire marshals determined the fire started when a lithium-ion battery that was charging in the apartment kitchen went into thermal runaway, triggering the three-alarm inferno, according to FDNY on X. The department shared its findings on July 22 after investigators finished processing the scene. FDNY described the home as a basement apartment in a seven-story residential building in Queens and said flames spread quickly once the battery failed.
FDNY Warnings And City Context
The FDNY has repeatedly urged New Yorkers to charge and store lithium-ion batteries outside whenever possible, to avoid charging them overnight, and to keep exits clear, guidance that appears throughout its public safety materials. The department’s FDNY Smart resources note that lithium-ion batteries have been tied to hundreds of fires in recent years and that the city has rolled out public education campaigns in an attempt to cut that number. For more safety tips and disposal information, see FDNY Smart.
Rescue Details And Aftermath
According to FDNY, the 48-year-old resident escaped the apartment through a bedroom window during the fire and was later transported to a hospital, where he died. The department called it the first 2026 death linked to a lithium-ion battery fire, according to the FDNY post. Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s office are still reviewing materials recovered from the unit as they finalize their report. FDNY has reiterated that anyone who spots damaged or improperly stored batteries should report the condition to 311 so inspectors can check it out.
How Residents Can Reduce Risk
Officials recommend using manufacturer-approved chargers, keeping charging devices on the floor and away from anything that can burn, and never charging them while sleeping or otherwise leaving them unattended, in line with FDNY guidance. Batteries that are bulging, smoking, or unusually hot should be moved outside only if it can be done safely, then taken to an authorized drop-off site for proper disposal. New York City’s battery disposal information is available at NYC.gov. The marshal’s probe into the Queens apartment fire remains active as officials complete their report.
