October 29, 2024

Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker and other FDNY officials hosted the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Fire Administrator and representatives from fire service across the United States for a two-day symposium focused on lithium-ion batteries.

The event, which kicked off Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall's Island, focused on sharing data, discussing public safety risks and shaping a research-and-development agenda to combat the increasing impacts lithium-ion batteries and micromobility devices, including e-bikes, are having on communities across the country.

U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, as well as the Department of Homeland Security's National Security and Technology Laboratory, attended the event. Fire service experts from Seattle, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta were also in attendance.

"The FDNY is proud to partner with all of you in our effort to solve this problem. We want to hear from you-we especially want to know what you know. We are aware that what happens in New York eventually happens in the rest of the country and around the world. The lives we save in this work are not just the lives of New Yorkers; they are the lives of people throughout the country and around the world," Fire Commissioner Tucker said during his opening remarks Tuesday. "I urge all of you to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from each other and think about things in a new way. We are hopeful that the conversations that take place these two days will make our city, our country and the world a safer place."

The workshop agenda included breakout sessions, with topics including utilizing science to solve problems for first responders, community risk reduction and best practices in battery incident emergency response.

FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn also spoke on Tuesday. He said lithium-ion battery fires are one of the most important subjects in the fire service right now.

"This is an emerging threat that has gotten ahead of the legislation that we need to tackle this problem," Chief Flynn said. "We are willing to share the data that we have collected here. I think we have a duty to make that happen. We also appreciate any efforts that you can make on behalf of the federal legislation that is still pending."

So far in 2024, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries have killed five people and injured 91.

In May, Congress passed H.R. 1797, also known as the "Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act." Fire Commissioner Tucker continues to advocate for the Senate to pass the pending companion bill.