By Michael V. Cusenza
A 93-year-old woman died on Friday in an accidental inferno in her Ozone Park home that was sparked by a lithium-ion battery, according to City fire marshals.
The fire broke out around 1:25 p.m. Firefighters discovered Kam Mei Koo unconscious inside her 101st Avenue residence as they battled the two-alarm blaze. She was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.
According to WABC-TV Eyewitness News, FDNY fire marshals indicated that the building’s basement was being used as an e-bike repair shop. Electric bikes are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, WABC noted, the first floor was illegally converted into an apartment with a constructed loft for sleeping quarters.
Photo Courtesy of FDNY
Lithium-ion battery fueled fires have been responsible for 14 deaths in NYC in 2023.
Jack Koo, Kam Mei’s son, is listed as the mixed-use edifice’s owner. He has been hit with two City Department of Buildings code violations, WABC reported.
In June, City leaders pledged to increase lithium-ion battery inspections and education efforts to prevent further fires. Mayor Eric Adams, City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, and City Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin Kim recently announced a new action plan to expedite investigations into complaints made via 311 about potentially hazardous conditions involving lithium-ion batteries at bike shops and bike repair shops within the five boroughs. Additionally, Mayor Adams and administration officials announced a joint comprehensive outreach and education campaign to educate bike shop and bike repair shop owners about the dangers presented by lithium-ion batteries and best practices to avoid fires.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 14 people have died and more than 90 others have been injured this year alone from fires sparked by the now-infamous batteries.
