Since 2022, New York has experienced more than 800 fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries, leading to 30 deaths and more than 400 injuries. The sudden explosion of battery incidents led FDNY in 2023 to form the Lithium-Ion Task Force, a specialized unit dedicated to addressing the growing threat of fires caused by batteries, particularly those used in e-bikes and e-scooters. Today on the podcast, we talk to John Orlando, the FDNY fire marshal who led the Lithium-Ion Task Force until recently. We chat about the causes and scope of New York City’s battery problems, the work of the task force, and how other departments and jurisdictions can work together to achieve similar results, even without FDNY’s considerable resources. LINKS:

• See FDNY videos, campaign resources, regulations and more related to lithium-ion batteries
• See NFPA resources related to lithium-ion batteries
• Read NFPA Journal articles on:
  • The growing concern about lithium-ion consumer products in homes;
  • The copious amounts of research happening now to better understand and mitigate battery hazards;
  • The growing concerns about the fire safety of e-bikes and other micro-mobility devices;
  • The lessons from the Surprise, Arizona energy storage system explosion.