At least 38 people were injured after a violent fire in a building in Manhattan, New York, originated by a lithium battery of an electric bicycle. Firefighters had to use ropes to save the neighbors.
The fire broke out at 429 East 52nd Street, inside an apartment where its owner is held five electric bicycles. Authorities said they believed the resident was repairing those shots and are now investigating whether they were carried out. unauthorized commercial activities.
The images captured from a video later posted on social networks show the firefighters while rescuing a woman on the 20th floorwhere authorities said the fire broke out.
of the wounded, two were in critical conditionFive were in serious condition and the rest sustained minor injuries, firefighters said.
Now they are investigating if there were any security issues in the building, if a fire alarm should sound; if the doors were left open and fueled the fire and if the fire protection e the planning of the building was adequate.
Neighbors described the scene as a scene of great confusion and uncertainty, which began at 10 am with a strong smell of smoke. Half an hour later, an explosion occurred breaking windows and glass exploded everywhere.
Residents who lived above the 20th floor, where the fire was located, they were evacuated to the roof. The New York Police Department sent a helicopterbut no bailouts were carried out with it.
The battery of a skateboard, cause of a fatal fire in Recoleta
What happened in New York recalls what happened last June in the Recoleta neighborhood, in the city of Buenos Aires, when the lithium battery of an electric skateboard caused a fire that killed a woman and four of her children.
The authorities determined that the fire started from the battery, which the sources confirmed to the investigation Clarione, it was connected in the living room.
They also claimed that, according to specialists, these batteries, when overcharged, it can cause a glow effect, which is not an explosion, but generates flames. In addition, it was learned that there were 9 people on the spot, including 5 deceased.
The fatal victims were identified as Rafit Jabbaz, 3, Orlic Jabbaz, 7, Ester Jabbaz, 9, and Camila Jabbaz, 17. Their mother, Karina Sofía Kibudi, 52, also died.
Dangers about lithium batteries
As reported by the New York TimesNeighbor 200 fires in the Big Apple this year were caused by lithium-ion batteries, what has already caused six victims.
These batteries are found in micromobility transport devices such as electric bicycles, scooters, and hoverboards. Fires caused by batteries are usually intense and can quickly gain momentum from any combustible object around them.
The danger is that combustible components, separated by extremely thin walls, increase the possibility of overheating. The safety of the device depends on the quality of construction of these walls: if they do not work well, chemical reactions can cause fires.
Their overexertion and use in very hot places, especially when charging, are also questioned, as well as possible problems caused by bumps and falls.
Such is the danger its carriage is vetoed or heavily conditioned on commercial aircraft. According to an organization of aircraft manufacturers, the fire suppression systems in these vehicles cannot extinguish the fire of a significant number of lithium batteries, according to the report released by the BBC. There are in fact special fire extinguishers for this type of battery.
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Source: Clarin
