The FDNY says the five-alarm fire that occurred at a supermarket on Grand Concourse and 181st Street was caused by a scooter’s lithium-ion battery.
Video taken from the back of the 2096 Grand Concourse supermarket at around 10:30 a.m. shows the flames rapidly spreading throughout a room. Fire officials say those flames quickly overtook the rest of the store and even reached a laundromat next door.
About 200 firefighters and EMS workers responded to the blaze and prevented it from reaching the furniture store on the other side of the building.
Authorities say five firefighters were injured, along with an EMS member and Con Edison worker. None of the injuries were life threatening.
Authorities say they have not yet determined the specifics of what caused the scooter battery to catch on fire.
City officials say the blaze is a cautionary tale about the dangers of leaving devices like scooters and e-bikes indoors.
“When you saw how fast this fire started and spread, it just really gives you a point of pause. The commissioner has been stating for some time now – we have to really adapt to the use of these batteries. We must make sure that the illegal batteries are not in the city and then we have to educate the public,” said Mayor Eric Adams.
Fire officials say the roof caved in during the blaze and the supermarket will have to be rebuilt.
