Lithium-ion Battery Ignites Two-Alarm Fire at Bronx Barbershop, Injuring Five People

The two-alarm fire broke out around 9:40 p.m. at La Roka Barber Shop on West Burnside Avenue in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx.

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Fire Department officials determined that a lithium-ion battery was responsible for igniting a two-alarm blaze that swept through La Roka Barber Shop in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. The fire erupted at approximately 9:40 p.m. on West Burnside Avenue, forcing emergency responders to the scene and resulting in five people sustaining injuries during the incident.

Investigators from the FDNY completed their analysis of the fire’s origin, identifying the rechargeable battery as the source of the ignition. The discovery underscores ongoing safety concerns regarding lithium-ion battery hazards in commercial and residential settings across the city.

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