NEW YORK - Tragedy struck a New York City apartment when a fire, believed to have been ignited by an electric bicycle battery, erupted on Sunday evening, leaving one person dead and six others injured, officials reported.

The incident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday in a 10th-floor apartment located within a public housing complex in the Bronx. According to a spokesperson from the Fire Department, the fire rapidly engulfed the apartment.

Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, rushing one critically injured individual to a nearby hospital. Despite medical intervention, the victim tragically succumbed to their injuries. Two other individuals sustained severe injuries that were considered life-threatening, while four others suffered minor injuries.

Upon further investigation, fire marshals concluded that the fire was caused by the lithium-ion battery of an e-bike present in the apartment, officials from the department stated. This fatal incident comes just three weeks after another fire, also attributed to a lithium-ion battery, claimed the lives of three members of a Brooklyn family.

The city of New York has been grappling with a concerning surge in fires related to electric bike and scooter batteries in recent years. City officials have attributed many of these fires to the use of off-market batteries and chargers. As a result, they have been advocating for the federal government to reinforce regulations governing the sale of e-bikes and batteries.

The devastating fire is a grim reminder of the urgent need for strict safety measures and regulations to govern the use and sale of electric bicycle batteries. As investigations continue, authorities will undoubtedly explore further steps to prevent future incidents of this nature.

The Fire Department of New York City, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, will work diligently to address this concerning issue and ensure the safety of public housing residents and the community at large.