Community Chat

[MorningLover]

The huge blaze, guts grocery store and injures 7 — two seriously — on Sunday, March 5.

Fire investigators are blaming a lithium-ion battery for sparking a massive 5-alarm inferno that tore through a supermarket in the Bronx.

The fire took off around 10:40 a.m.,requiring over 50 units and more than 200 firefighters to the Concourse Food Plaza on Sunday. Huge plumes of thick smoke filled the sky, visible from miles away.

An EMS worker and a civilian were seriously hurt. Five firefighters suffered minor injuries.

The origin of the raging fire was a battery-powered scooter, caught on video igniting inside the store. 

The Mayor went to the scene and used the incident to call attention to the batteries, which have sparked a slew of recent fires in the city, some of them fatal.

"The video is chilling. When you saw how fast this fire started and spread, it just really gives you a point of pause," the Mayor said at a press conference, as crews continued to extinguish hotspots some five hours after the fire started.

“We have witnessed this over and over again, and that is why we’re going to continue to amplify the message that a simple device like this, this charred scooter, is only a symbol of what is happening behind us and what has continued to take place since early this morning,” the Mayor said. “We’re still fighting the fire because of the type of device the fire started from.” 

The Fire Commissioner said the bike caused "extraordinary damage."

"This entire building behind me is completely destroyed. The roof is caved in. There’s nothing left. And it is all because of this single bike.”

[Imaoldhippie]

Lithium batteries are noted for this.  They have exploded on airplanes causing a crash.  They have set bed clothing on fire.  Im sure the list goes on.  And now they want us to buy electric cars!!!!!!!  No thank you.

[THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes]

These battery fires have become an almost weekly occurrence in NYC causing a number of fatalities. 

The NYC Fire Department investigated a shop with hundreds charging all at once.

[catter70]

That's what's in our future. No thanks.

[On It]

This was a horrible tragedy. I hope everyone impacted can come through this without lasting issues.

Japanese scientists are having  success with magnesium batteries. I hope they can make them viable for the marketplace since magnesium is much more abundant than lithium meaning less costly and hopefully more stable.

[THEY CallMe Mr Wilkes]

Right now the fire department is still on site dealing with hotspots.  It was completely out of control.

Saw an interview with a laundromat owner next door who lost his business and employees jobless.

The City really needs to figure out a way to deal with this.

[Carmie]

Just think, people are allowed  to bring their scooters/ wheelchairs on an airplane with these batteries.  An accident waiting for a place to happen.

Electric cars parked in garages are dangerous too.  

These batteries need to be made safer.

[Kachina624]

@Carmie    How about their computers, tablets, cell phones?  Those are most likely things to have caused fires on airplanes.  Just yesterday I head a warning on TV not to put laptops in luggage that goes into the plane's hold where nobody can get to it to put out a fire.

[Carmie]

@Kachina624   the hold is where those scooters and wheelchairs go. So dangerous.  I have also read stories where custom wheelchairs have been destroyed/ smashed in the hold so bad they they cannot be used.

How awful for the person who is disabled and needs the chair.  They should have a "closet" that is fireproof to store those types of things.

After an awful accident that costs many people their lives, they will get around to making planes safer.

[Buffalogal47]

@Kachina624  Check out the TSA's list of items that are prohibited in checked luggage. Lithium/ion batteries are near the top of the list. They are only permitted in carryons. When you check your bags at the airport, the agents always ask about those type of batteries. Plus, all checked bags are x-rayed before they are loaded onto the plane and the TSA will manually inspect bags that have questionable items.