Fire At Illegal NYC Daycare Injures 18 Children; 1 Critical

Nearly two dozen people, mostly children, were injured in a fire that broke out in the basement of a New York City home that officials suspect was being used as an illegal daycare center.

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said the blaze, possibly caused by a lithium-ion battery, began at around 2 p.m. Wednesday in the two-story home in the Kew Gardens Hills neighborhood of Queens.

Four adults and 18 children were injured in the fire. One of the children was taken to the hospital in serious condition, but was now stable. The remaining were treated at the scene for minor injuries and mainly for smoke inhalation, according to the New York Post.

“The other 17 were stable and refused medical attention on the scene, all pediatrics,” FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Stacy Scanlon said.

Around 60 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene, following which it took about 40 minutes to get the blaze under control.

“A couple minutes after 2 p.m., we got a call for a fire … Companies arrived and found heavy fire in the basement. Firefighters removed some pediatric patients from the building, including one from the fire area in the basement. The fire was under control within 40 minutes and was confined to the basement,” said FDNY Chief of Operations John Esposito.

Officials said the fire broke out in what is believed to be an unlicensed daycare operating in the basement. The authorities did not reveal the ages of the children in the daycare.

A dentist’s office was also operating in the basement of the building, in addition to the daycare.

No arrests were made, but the Department of Buildings issued violations for work done without a permit at the address.

Investigators believe a lithium-ion battery from an e-bike in the basement started the fire.

“There was a lithium ion battery involved with the fire…we’re not sure what the involvement in the fire was or what the cause is yet. That’s still being investigated,” said FDNY Chief John Esposito. “Unfortunately it’s a fairly common occurrence throughout the city the last couple of years and into this year, of lithium ion batteries.”

As fires linked to lithium-ion batteries are increasing, Esposito said, “You should be using UL or other regulated and certified batteries. They should not be charged in the entranceway or pathway to leave your house or apartment. You should not charge them overnight.”

All the building’s residents were displaced following the fire. The Red Cross offered emergency housing to the residents.

Anny Phillip, who works in the area where the fire broke out, said people “were running, and the smoke was intense.”

“That was scary, to see a whole bunch of kids coming out,” Phillip told CBS News.
I saw one in a blanket that a firefighter took, I think, and he had a blanket. He was running with him because I guess that one was probably really bad.”