City Council calls emergency hearing as NYC sees 68% uptick in lithium-battery fires

The City Council will hold an emergency hearing later this month to probe the Big Apple’s concerning 68% uptick in lithium battery-related fires this year.The swift November 20 hearing was announced on the heels of the tragic blaze that tore through a Sunset Park, Brooklyn home on Thursday morning, killing six people.Council Speaker Julie Menin also called attention to a fatal e-bike battery fire in the South Bronx last week – which took the lives of four family members. “The recent building fires in Sunset Park and in the South Bronx, which collectively claimed the lives of 10 New Yorkers, are heartbreaking tragedies that underscore the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life,” said Menin said in a statement. “As e-bikes and e-scooters continue to become a more common mode of transportation by commuters and delivery workers throughout our city, we must confront the serious fire safety risks posed by lithium-ion batteries,” she said. Law-enforcement sources noted that lithium-ion batteries had been found at the scene of the deadly Sunset Park inferno, but the FDNY said Friday that the cause of the blaze was still under investigation.The number of fires inside of residential buildings went up by 6% during the 2026 fiscal year — with 21,475 tallied, up from 20,180 in the previous fiscal year, according to data in the most recent mayor’s management report. Battery-related blazes have seen an even more troubling 68% increase – with 406 recorded so far this year, up from 241 for the same timeframe in 2025.Lithium-ion batteries – which are found commonly in increasingly popular e-bikes – were responsible for the deaths of nine people this year and injuries of 70 New Yorkers. “Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their home, and the Council will take action to strengthen safety measures and prevent future tragedies,” Menin said. The oversight hearing will include testimony from city agencies, fire safety experts, advocat...