A lithium-ion battery sparked a deadly fire in Brooklyn the morning of Oct. 16 that left a 69-year-old man dead and two others with injuries. According to a CBS News report, the fire broke out early morning on the second floor of an apartment building on Brighton 3rd Street in Brighton Beach. FDNY officials said the occupants of the apartment were home and heard the battery fail. They tried to put out the fire, but weren’t successful.
Fatality and Burn Injuries
The device was blocking the way and the older man could not get out in time and succumbed to his injuries. The two people who tried to extinguish the fire suffered burns to their hands, legs and backs, but are expected to survive. One of the victims was going in for surgery to treat fourth-degree burns, CBS reports. Fire officials also said that there were no smoke alarms in the apartment where the fire broke out.
So far this year, four people have been killed in fires caused by lithium batteries compared to 14 by this time last year. Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that prohibits the sale of batteries that don’t meet manufacturing standards and requires retailers to provide manuals for the batteries as well as training materials for first responders. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased victim here. We wish those injured the very best for a speedy and full recovery.
Smoke Alarms and Smoke Detectors Save Lives
Smoke alarms and smoke detectors are vital tools in protecting lives and property from the dangers of fire. They provide early warning, giving people crucial time to evacuate before a fire spreads. In many cases, fires start during the night or early morning hours when occupants are asleep. Without a working smoke alarm, they may not wake up in time to escape. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms or detectors.
Smoke alarms detect the presence of smoke, a key indicator of fire, and emit a loud alarm to alert occupants. Some models even come with additional features such as carbon monoxide detection or interconnection between units, so that when one alarm is triggered, all alarms in the home sound.
Property Owner’s/Manager’s Responsibilities
In New York, property owners/managers have specific legal responsibilities regarding the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors to ensure tenant safety. According to New York City law, property owners/managers must install at least one operational smoke detector in each apartment or dwelling unit. These devices must be placed within 10 feet of each sleeping area, and the alarms must meet standards set by FDNY.
In addition to installing the detectors, property owners/managers are responsible for replacing any smoke detectors that become defective. The law requires that these smoke detectors be equipped with a non-removable, non-replaceable battery that lasts at least 10 years.
Property owners/managers are also required to provide written instructions on how to properly maintain the detectors and what to do in case of malfunction. Failure to comply with smoke detector regulations can result in fines for property owners/managers, especially if it leads to unsafe living conditions. Ensuring that smoke detectors are installed and maintained is a critical part of a building owner’s/manager’s responsibility to promote fire safety in rental properties.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Whether you have been living as a tenant at a private apartment complex or in a public housing unit (NYCHA) (the Projects), please remember that you have legal rights. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of dangerous conditions, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of assisting injured victims. One of our clients — a hot water burn victim — secured $750,000 in damages from the property owner and manager.
Our firm also obtained a $985,000 settlement out of a $1 million insurance policy for two people who suffered smoke inhalation injuries because the homeowner did not have smoke detectors installed and the $15,000 that was left on the insurance policy was for a person that we did not represent. Another of our clients recovered $2,500,000 due to a faulty space heater. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/brooklyn-fire-lithium-ion-battery/