A lithium-ion battery used in a student project sparked a blaze at Staten Island Technical High School that injured a firefighter — stoking fears about school safety efforts around the dangerous devices.
The fire broke out on the third floor of the elite school on Dec. 6 around 7 p.m. and required 12 units and 60 firefighters to extinguish, according to the Staten Island Advance.
The batteries, which are often used to power e-bikes and e-scooters, have become a leading cause of fires in NYC and can lead to “explosive, aggressive” infernos that spread rapidly and are difficult to douse, according to the city.
“Due to the increased use and visibility of lithium-ion batteries in schools, all school stakeholders must ensure that safety and precautionary measures are in place to uphold a safe learning environment,” the city Department of Education said on its website.
It mandates that e-devices be stored outside and at least six feet from schools; that batteries not be stored near entrances; and that a storage area with a door be designated for five or more batteries charging in a school.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella called attention to the alarming number of new lithium-ion storage facilities coming to the city, more than half of which are headed to his borough, which can store enormous batteries up to 40 feet long.
“Whether within schools or next to our homes, these batteries are dangerous, and it continues to be a wonder that [Battery Energy Storage Systems] facilities are still allowed to be built across Staten Island,” Fossella said in a statement.
The FDNY referred inquiries to the DOE, which did not respond.
