Lithium-ion battery fires: FDNY arrest, charge Brooklyn e-bike store owner for repeated violations [Video]

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN (WABC) — The FDNY is sounding the alarm once again on the dangers of e-bike fires.

It’s an ongoing issue in New York City: illegal and uncertified lithium-ion batteries exploding inside businesses and homes in the five boroughs.

There were five lithium-ion battery fires this past weekend, part of 10 reported fires within the past week. Although the number of deaths from these fires are down, the warning sign is clear.

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh says there’s now a shift, which is why Tian Liang Liu was arrested at his e-bike shop in Brooklyn.

“It’s the sheer number of times we’ve gone there and the sheer quality and types of dangerous activity that they had going on at the site,” Kavanagh said.

A special task force carrying out an inspection at Liu’s shop on Flatbush Avenue on Friday found a load of uncertified lithium-ion batteries improperly stored as well as propane cylinders.

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