Deadly Brooklyn Fire Was Sparked By Lithium-Ion Battery: FDNY

CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — A deadly fire in Crown Heights was caused by a lithium-ion battery, authorities said Monday.

The fire burned through an apartment building on Albany Avenue between Park and Sterling Place Sunday, killing three generations of one Brooklyn family, authorities said.

FDNY officials said Sunday's devastating fire marks 17 deaths to lithium-ion battery fires this year alone.

"As today's news shows, this is truly a life and death situation," said FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.

Authorities on Sunday identified the victims as Albertha West, 81, Michael West, 58, and Jamiyl West, 33.

Some 14 other folks were injured in the blaze, including a firefighter, according to the FDNY.

And on Monday, Kavanagh said responsibility lies on large retailers like Amazon to ensure their products are up to safety regulations.

"Retailers like Amazon and Walmart need to stop selling devices that are not safety certified by a national testing laboratory," Kavanagh said. "Food service apps like GrubHub and Uber Eats need to do more to ensure the safety of their workers who depend on these bikes to make a living."