Grandmother, her son and grandson die in Brooklyn fire sparked by electric scooter batteries: NYC fire commissioner slams food delivery companies and says ‘there is blood on the hands of this private industry’
A grandmother, her son and her grandson were killed Sunday evening in a Brooklyn fire sparked by electric scooter batteries.
Albertha West, 81, Michael West, 58, and Jamiyl West, 33, all died in the flames that quickly engulfed the Crown Heights brownstone.
In response to the tragedy, FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh has criticized the electric bicycle industry and food delivery companies whose drivers use these devices.
Kavanagh said that “there is blood on the hands of this private industry” and that the devices are considered “ticking time bombs.”
There have now been 17 deaths caused by lithium-ion batteries and 238 fires caused this year.
The fast-moving flames can be seen through the windows as the FDNY arrived at the house fire within minutes
Charred pieces of an electric scooter (photo) were soon found at the scene. There have now been 17 deaths this year from lithium-ion batteries and 238 fires caused
Jamiyl West (left), Albertha West (middle) and Michael West (right) all died in the intense fire on Sunday evening. Michael was Albertha’s son and Jamiyl was her grandson
Firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes at Albany Avenue and Park Place around 4:30 a.m. Sunday as flames were shot out of every window and the front door.
Emergency workers did their best to save everyone inside as Albertha, her son Michael and her grandson were rushed to Kings County Hospital, but they did not survive.
Others at the scene were treated for smoke inhalation and one firefighter suffered serious injuries.
It is unclear whether there were smoke detectors in the house, but Kavanaugh said these electrical batteries sparked quickly and would not have given the detectors enough time to respond.
“They explode – and the moment they explode, there can be so much fire at that moment that you can’t get out,” Kavanagh said.
The fire is believed to have started in the basement of the home and firefighters brought the blaze under control around 6:30 a.m., an FDNY spokesperson said.
Authorities soon discovered a blackened electric scooter that had been broken into pieces by the fire.
Albertha was known as the matriarch of her family who had raised her family in the Brooklyn home for centuries.
FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh (pictured) blasted the electric bicycle industry and food delivery companies whose drivers use these devices
Officials are seen bagging the blackened parts of an electric scooter that they say started the fire (pictured)
Kavanagh said even if there were smoke detectors, the flames (pictured) from the lithium-ion battery spread too quickly to go out
Albertha (pictured) was known as the matriarch of the family and had lived in the Brooklyn brownstone for more than forty years. She just celebrated her birthday with her family on Saturday
They had just celebrated her birthday on Saturday and her other son Henry died last Thursday.
William West, Michael’s son, posted on Facebook saying: ‘Today I lost my father, my grandmother whose birthday we just celebrated on Saturday, and my close cousin. Last week I lost my uncle.
“Please pray for my family as we need each other and strength. Right now it’s a quiet time for me. I love you all.’
Neighbor Jason Thompson said the family lived in the house for more than 40 years.
‘They were the best. They were the kindest, sweetest neighbors you will ever know. They are the type of neighbors who give you sugar when you don’t have sugar,” Thompson said Daily news.
Another neighbor, Sarah Bard, said Albertha lived with her sons and grandsons after losing her husband in recent years. They also revealed that she lost another son to a heart attack a few years ago.
‘She was a lovely old lady, it’s a shame. …I spoke to her recently. I can’t believe this is happening,” Bard said.
Greg Bruno, a friend of Jamiyl’s, said he spoke to him just the day before the fire and that the West family was “very welcoming” as they invited him to many family events.
Aubrey West, Michael’s daughter, posted a photo of the three victims and said, “I think God knew she needed them more than we did.”
The West family had lived in the house since the 1970s, after moving from South Carolina.
Michael West (left) was a son of Albertha and died with her in the house fire. She recently lost another son on Thursday
The fire brigade had the flames under control around 6:30 am on Sunday and the fire brigade is investigating the fire.
Jamiyl (photo) was Albertha’s grandson and Michael’s cousin. His friend said he had just spoken to him the day before the fire
Soggy pillows and mattresses are piled outside the three-story brownstone
The injured firefighter, along with thirteen other victims, were treated on site by ambulance personnel.
Mayor Eric Adams said, “We’re fortunate that if you look at the flames, the damage on both sides of the building, you didn’t see extensive spread, which is really amazing that the fire didn’t spread to the two buildings that stood next to them.’
Neighbors told us The New York Times that Mayor Adams arrived at the charred site around 8 a.m. and inspected the damage before leaving.
Dozens of firefighters surrounded the front of the three-story home late Sunday morning, as sodden piles of mattresses and pillows littered the sidewalk.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by FDNY firefighters.