NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 21

New York City alone is on pace for nearly 200
such fires in 2022, up significantly from the 104
it experienced last year and the 44 it recorded in
2020. As of early September, electric micro-mobility
fires had caused five deaths and 80 injuries in
the city in 2022, both record highs.
" We are running at least one lithium-ion fire
per day, and sometimes four-at one point we had
seven in a 24-hour period, " said Lt. John Cassidy, a
HAZMAT specialist at FDNY.
If the batteries become damaged, even from
firefighters, researchers, and other stakeholders
from around the country to share information
and develop strategies for addressing an emerging
public safety problem.
" Lithium-Ion Batteries: Challenges for the Fire
Service, " held in September, focused primarily on
safety issues related to battery-powered " micro-mobility
devices, " the electric bikes and scooters now
seen buzzing through cities around the world. The
two-day event was sponsored by the FDNY Foundation,
UL's Fire Safety Research Institute, and NFPA.
A key message was that fires involving these
devices and their batteries present responders with
a host of new challenges. " We have guys with 20
years of experience on busy ladder companies who
respond to e-bike fires and tell us afterwards that
it was something they've never seen before, " said
Joseph Loftus, an FDNY battalion chief, in one of
the event's presentations. " They haven't seen smoke
like that before, haven't felt heat like that, haven't
seen fire go up like that. Batteries have changed the
game and we have got to be ready. "
something as simple as using the wrong charger,
they can release poisonous and flammable
smoke, spark fires, and even explode. The problem
is compounded by city residents who are
increasingly storing e-bikes and scooters in their
apartments without realizing the potential risk,
FDNY leaders said. Some people are even running
unsanctioned e-bike repair shops in their homes.
The same or worse dangers exist in licensed e-bike
shops, which can have hundreds of batteries on
bikes or in storage and are often located on the
ground floor of large apartment buildings.
To drive home the point, symposium attendees
heard dramatic first-hand accounts of raging, outof-control
fires sparked by batteries, and watched
videos and live demonstrations of batteries shooting
flaming debris in every direction like angry
roman candles. The message was loud and clear:
this hazard is coming to your community, and you
need to be ready. " We aren't fooling ourselves-
we are not stopping this trend, " said Joe Jardin,
chief of fire prevention for FDNY. " The hope is to
manage the response effectively. "
FDNY officials shared the extensive work
they have done to develop new training and
tactics for response to this novel threat, as well
as precautions and lessons learned for overhaul
when the fire is out. Organizers put together
a comprehensive package of resources from
FDNY, NFPA, the UL Fire Safety Research Institute,
and other organizations with the hope of
spreading the information and raising awareness
of the problem.
" Don't waste this opportunity to prepare. Take
what you are learning and go apply it before
something happens and you have to apply it in
retrospect, " Chris Dubay, NFPA's vice president of
codes and standards, said during a symposium
panel discussion. " This is not a fad. We are going
to see this get even bigger. People need to realize
that what they are bringing into their homes is a
significant hazard when things go poorly. "
NFPA .ORG/JOURNAL * NFPA JOURNAL | 21
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DISPATCHES
Read an NFPA
Journal feature
story on electric
micro-mobility
devices.
Listen to
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interview with
Joe Jardin,
chief of fire
prevention at
FDNY.
Learn about
training
and tactical
resources
developed
by FDNY, UL,
NFPA, and other
organizations
for responding
to lithium-ion
battery fires.
Download an
NFPA safety tip
sheet on e-bikes
and e-scooters.
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NFPA Journal - Winter 2022

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