A deadly fire in the Bronx may have been caused by a lithium-ion battery, firefighters say

A man died Thursday night in a fire in the Bronx that may have been caused by a lithium-ion battery, fire officials said.

Police and firefighters arrived at the three-story building at Beaumont Avenue and Grove Street — two blocks from the Bronx Zoo — shortly before midnight. They found a fire on the third floor and a 34-year-old man unconscious. He later died at St. Barnabas Hospital, police said, but his name has not been released.

Emergency crews also took a 56-year-old man to Jacobi Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, but police said he was in stable condition. Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries, the FDNY said.

Officials said the threat response team found a lithium-ion battery.

Fire officials said it’s still unclear if the battery caused the fire, but they are investigating. If so, it would be the fifth death from a lithium-ion battery fire in the city this year, according to the FDNY.

According to the FDNY, 18 New Yorkers died last year in intense fires that can start if batteries are not regulated or charged properly.

A 69-year-old grandfather died last week in his apartment in Brighton Beach powerful flame The fire, as determined by officials, was caused by the charging of a lithium-ion battery.

A total of 10 people were left homeless by the fire Thursday night, and the Red Cross was on the scene to help, police said.

At 01:40, the fire was contained

This story is evolving and may be updated.