© 2023 Luke T. Bush
PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY - 9/21/23
The first time the fire department arrived the fire was put out. It seemed the defective lithium-ion rechargeable battery for an electric bicycle would no longer be a hazard.
But a few hours later the battery reignited in the dumpster, the heat so intense that it melted the bin's covers. Once again the fire department extinguished the blaze.
Due to the rising popularity of electric bicycles and scooters defective rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are the third cause of New York City fires.
Consumers are advised to look for batteries with the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) label but there are counterfeit batteries out there with counterfeit UL tags. Fireproof bags are available to cover a lithium battery during charging to contain any fires. The owner should at least be present during recharging, keeping an eye on the energy cell in case a problem should arise.
