New York City’s Council cited 406 lithium-ion battery fires so far in 2026 and scheduled a Nov. 20 oversight hearing, as deadly incidents renew scrutiny of battery safety and storage.
The Council’s Nov. 6 announcement credited the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) with the tally and said the fires had caused 70 injuries and nine deaths. It reported 241 battery fires over the same period in 2025. An Oct. 28 mayor’s office briefing gave a different year-to-date count: 401 fires, 74 injuries and six deaths. The public statements do not explain why the totals differ.
An e-bike battery caused an Oct. 28 fire in an 11th-floor Bronx apartment, according to the FDNY and mayor’s office. The bike blocked the exit. Four family members died, including an 11-year-old boy, and another person was critically injured. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore warned at the briefing that such fires “can kill you.”
Six people died and nine were injured in the Nov. 5 Sunset Park fire, according to the mayor’s office. The cause remained under investigation. The Council said e-bikes were found at the scene but did not say they caused the fire. Afterward, Council Speaker Julie Menin called for stronger safe-storage practices, adding, “Enough is enough.”
New York City’s Local Law 39/2023 restricts the sale, lease or rental of powered mobility devices and batteries that do not meet recognized safety certification standards. The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) reported that 118 delivery workers took part in a six-month battery-swapping pilot in 2024, making more than 12,000 swaps. Home charging among participants fell 35%. The department’s current FAQ says public battery-swapping cabinets are expected to be available in 2028.
The Council’s Nov. 20 hearing will examine enforcement of existing safety laws, public education and battery-storage practices.
