FDNY: Lithium-ion battery caused deadly Belmont fire

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Fire officials say a lithium-ion battery was the cause of a fatal fire that occurred Thursday night in Belmont. A 34-year-old man died from the fire. He is the fifth person to die from a lithium-ion battery this year. A 56-year-old man was rushed to the hospital for smoke inhalation. When firefighters arrived at 2264 Beaumont Ave., a resident was hanging from his window to be rescued. Residents stood outside as firefighters broke through windows and doors just before midnight on Thursday. The FDNY says they found a lithium-ion battery inside an apartment. It was later determined to be the cause of the fire. The building superintendent, Ernesto Salaam, says he told the victim that he could not keep his e-scooter in the hallway because it was a fire hazard. While the victim moved the scooter outside, he says he believes the batteries were charging in the kitchen. "He had two batteries charging off of that and I am assuming, with the history of these batteries, he overcharged it, went to sleep, they started exploding. He couldn't get out the room," said Salaam. In 2024, there have been 222 fires, 88 injuries and at least four deaths - adding this fifth death - caused by lithium-ion batteries, according to officials. News 12 Reporter Brittany Cadet's Friday noon report on the fatal Belmont fire. "