Brooklyn apartment building fire kills six, Lithium-ion battery under investigation - Geo News

At least six people are dead, and several others were injured after a three-alarm fire tore through a residential building in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, early Thursday morning, according to the FDNY.

The initial 911 call was made just after 1:30 a.m. for a fire on 58th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Upon arrival of the firefighters, they found a two-story building burning, and the video footage shows large flames coming out of the second-floor windows, accompanied by sounds of breaking glass.

Over 200 firefighters and emergency medical services were involved in putting out the fire, which took about an hour before they managed to get it under control. The fire collapsed the second floor and stairs and spread to the building adjacent to it.

Four of the casualties died at the scene while the remaining two were taken to the hospital in critical condition but died there. Four additional civilians and three firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries. Video footage from the scene showed firefighters performing CPR on a casualty lying on a stretcher.

According to the FDNY, the hazmat teams were summoned to the house because a lithium-ion battery was discovered. The battery is still being considered as the cause of the fire since the fire marshal is still at the scene conducting an investigation. In addition, the city’s medical examiner has been there since morning.

This fire occurred a few days after a 10-year-old boy lost his life and four relatives were admitted to hospital due to an explosion of an e-scooter within an apartment in the Bronx.

The American Red Cross is helping the displaced families in seeking temporary shelter. The building is very badly damaged with its front scorched and most of its structure being burnt.

The victims' identities have not been disclosed by the authorities yet.