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1 year ago
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A grandmother, her son and her grandson died in a Brooklyn fire that was sparked by electric scooter batteries on Sunday night.
Albertha West, 81, Michael West, 58, and Jamiyl West, 33, were all killed in the flames that quickly engulfed the Crown Heights brownstone.
In response to the tragedy, FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh slammed the electric bike industry and food delivery companies whose drivers use these devices.
Kavanagh said that 'There is blood on the hands of this private industry' and that the devices are considered 'ticking time bombs'.
There have now been 17 deaths related to lithium-ion batteries and 238 fires ignited by them this year.
The fast-moving flames can be seen scorching through the windows as the FDNY arrived to the house fire within minutes
Charred pieces of an electric scooter (pictured) were soon recovered from the scene. There have now been 17 deaths related to lithium-ion batteries and 238 fires sparked by them this year
Jamiyl West (left), Albertha West (middle) and Michael West (right) were all killed in the intense fire on Sunday night. Michael was Albertha's son and Jamiyl was her grandson
Firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes at Albany Avenue and Park Place around 4.30am on Sunday as flames were shot out of every window and the front door.
Responders tried their best to rescue everyone inside as Albertha, her son Michael and her grandson were rushed to Kings County Hospital, but they didn't survive.
Others at the scene were treated for smoke inhalation and one fire fighter suffered serious injuries.
It is unclear if there were smoke detectors inside the home, but Kavanaugh said that these electric batteries spark up quickly and wouldn't have given the detectors enough time to react.
'They explode- and the second they explode, there may be so much fire at that moment, you can't get out,' Kavanagh said.
The fire is believed to have started in the basement of the home and firefighters were able to get it under control around 6.30am, an FDNY spokesman said.
Authorities soon uncovered a blackened electric scooter that was broken up into pieces from the fire.
Albertha was known as the matriarch of her family that raised her family in the Brooklyn home for centuries.
FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh (pictured) slammed the electric bike industry and food delivery companies whose drivers use these devices
Officials are seen placing the blacked pieces of an electric scooter, which they believe ignited the fire in a bag (pictured)
Kavanagh said that even if there were smoke detectors, the flames (pictured) from the lithium-ion battery spread too fast for them to go off
Albertha (pictured) was known as the matriarch of the family and had lived in the Brooklyn brownstone for more than 40 years. She just celebrated her birthday on Saturday with her family
They had just celebrated her birthday on Saturday and last Thursday her other son Henry died.
William West, the son of Michael posted to Facebook and said: 'Today I lost my dad, my grandmother whose birthday we just celebrated her birthday Saturday, and my closest cousin. Last week I lost my uncle.
'Please pray for my family as we need each other and strength. Right now for me is quiet time I love all of you.'
Next-door neighbor Jason Thompson said that the family lived in the house for more than 40 years.
'They were the best. They were the kindest sweetest neighbors you'll ever know. They're the type of neighbors who will give you sugar if you don't have sugar,' Thompson told Daily News.
Another neighbor, Sarah Bard said that Albertha lived with her sons and grandsons after she lost her husband in recent years. They also revealed that she lost another son to a heart attack a few years back.
'She was a sweet old lady, it's very unfortunate. … I spoke to her the other day. I can't believe this is happening,' Bard said.
Greg Bruno, a friend of Jamiyl said that he had just spoken to him the day before the fire and that the West family were 'very welcoming' as they invited him to many family events.
Aubrey West, the daughter of Michael posted a picture of the three victims and said: 'I think god knew she needed them more than we did.'
The West family had lived in the home since the 1970s after they relocated from South Carolina.
Michael West (left) was one of Albertha's son and died with her in the house fire. She recently lost another son on Thursday
Firefighters were able to control the flames by 6.30am on Sunday and fire marshals are investigating the fire
Jamiyl (pictured) was Albertha's grandson and Michael's nephew. His friend said that he had just spoken to him the day before the fire
Soaked cushions and mattresses are seen piled up outside of the three-story brownstone
The injured firefighter was treated by EMS workers along with 13 other victims at the scene.
Mayor Eric Adams said: 'We're very fortunate, if you look at the flames, the damage on both sides of the building, you did not see extensive spreading, which is really amazing that it didn't spread to the two buildings that were next to them.'
Neighbors told The New York Times that Mayor Adams arrived at the charred scene around 8am and surveyed the damage before he left.
Dozens of firefighters surrounded the front of the three-story home late Sunday morning as soaked piles of mattresses and cushions laid on the sidewalk.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated by FDNY fire marshals.
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