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AGENCY TESTIMONY
FDNY reports significant reduction in lithium-ion battery fire fatalities
0:07:30
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Commissioner Tucker reports a substantial decrease in deaths related to lithium-ion battery fires, from 18 fatalities in 2023 to 6 in 2024. This improvement is attributed to proactive measures taken by the FDNY to address the issue.
- FDNY launched a lithium-ion battery task force that conducted nearly 600 inspections in 2024
- The task force issued numerous summonses and violation orders, and worked with the Department of Buildings to vacate dangerous buildings
- A $1 million advertising campaign and frequent safety messaging contributed to safer behavior from New Yorkers using these devices
Robert Tucker
0:07:30
We also saw a significant reduction, sixty seven percent of deaths related to fires caused by lithium ion batteries.
0:07:40
Even one death is too many.
0:07:42
But through the tireless work of EMS personnel and firefighters, twenty twenty four was a safer year for New Yorkers.
0:07:52
We've been working with members of the council for the last few years on measures to reduce the harm from fires caused by lithium ion batteries.
0:08:00
In 2023,
Zachary Iscol
0:08:01
the city experienced eighteen fatalities related to this threat.
0:08:05
I'm proud to report that in 2024, that number fell to six.
0:08:11
This positive outcome is the result of numerous proactive steps that we took to address this issue.
0:08:18
This included frequent outreach and safety messaging, aggressive inspections and enforcement, and
Robert Tucker
0:08:24
a targeted $1,000,000 advertising campaign.
0:08:29
We launched the FDNY lithium ion battery task force, which inspected nearly 600 e bike shops in 2024 alone.
0:08:39
That's a 25% increase over the inspections from 2023.
0:08:45
Members of the task force, including our fire prevention inspectors, and members of the Bureau of Fire Investigations, our fire marshals, issued 426 FDNY summonses, a 38 violation orders, 32 criminal summonses, and in the most egregious cases worked with our partners at the Department of Buildings to vacate seven dangerous buildings.
0:09:14
We're still seeing a large number of fires caused by lithium ion batteries, but our safety messaging is getting through and we're seeing safer behavior from New Yorkers who use these devices.
0:09:27
More people are charging and storing their devices outdoors when possible.