Two fires in Manhattan on Monday night and early Tuesday resulted in one fatality and several injuries, including seven firefighters. The first fire occurred in Yorkville on East 82nd Street and East End Avenue, where one man was killed. The blaze started on the fifth and sixth floors before spreading to the fourth floor, displacing residents from up to 10 apartments. Six firefighters sustained minor injuries and the Red Cross was assisting displaced residents.
Hours later, a fire broke out in an e-bike shop on West 38th Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown. Eighty-six firefighters extinguished the blaze in a 12-story commercial building, with one firefighter sustaining minor injuries. The fire was controlled by 4:30 a.m., with officials investigating the cause.
Incidents involving lithium-ion batteries have caused 250 fires in the city so far this year, slightly less than last year’s count. However, there have been fewer injuries and deaths reported in 2024 compared to the same period last year.
The fire department data shows 94 injuries and five deaths in 2024, compared to 133 injuries and 17 deaths last year. The investigation into the causes of the fires is ongoing, and the story is developing with potential updates expected.
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Photo credit gothamist.com