Gifted e-bike battery explodes in Mott Haven apartment, killing 11-year-old boy
Zion Maine died when a lithium-ion battery charged in the kitchen blocked the exit for his father and three siblings during the early morning hours.
By Olivia Miller ·
An 11-year-old Bronx boy died and four other family members were left in critical condition after a lithium-ion battery inside an electric bicycle exploded in their apartment. The fire began around 12:50 a.m. Wednesday in the 11th-floor unit of the Patterson Houses in Mott Haven, trapping the victims as flames blocked their only exit.
Zion Maine was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His father, Courtney Maine, 37, was placed in a medically induced coma in the burn ICU at Harlem Hospital. Two of Zion's brothers, ages 15 and 16, and his 33-year-old stepmother also remain in critical condition at local hospitals.
Relatives stated that the e-bike was a recent gift from a friend of Courtney Maine. Justin Wildman, 35, Zion's uncle, explained that his brother received the bicycle to help him find additional work. Wildman said his friend gave him the new bike after seeing him ride a child's bicycle. "He works at a car wash right down the block from where they live," Wildman said.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said the bike was positioned in the kitchen in a way that made it impossible for residents to leave safely. Neighbors described the fire as moving with terrifying speed. Kristina Diaz, who lives next door, said her apartment filled with smoke immediately. "My son grabbed the dish rag, wet it, put it on his face, and he tried to run out," Diaz said. "He couldn't make it out. It was horrible."
Firefighters arrived at the building on Morris Avenue near East 140th Street within four minutes. They forced the apartment door open and encountered heavy flames. Chief of Department John Esposito said firefighters crawled past the uncontrolled fire to search the rest of the apartment and remove the remaining victims before water could be applied to the blaze. It took slightly more than an hour to bring the fire under control.
The family also lost a pet pit bull named Roscoe in the fire. Zion's mother died of breast cancer approximately one year ago, according to relatives. Courtney Maine posted a message on Facebook hours before the fire that read, "Once you get to a certain point in life, all you really want is God, family, stability, good health, and peace."
Lithium-ion battery fires have caused 401 blazes in the city so far this year, resulting in 74 injuries and six deaths. The previous year saw 292 such fires with 51 injuries and one death, Bonsignore said. She urged residents to charge batteries outside homes and to ensure they never block doors or windows.
