The Albany Houses blaze comes as New York City expands outdoor charging options and maintains special battery rules for public housing residents.
NEW YORK — A lithium-ion battery fire that killed an 18-year-old at a Brooklyn public housing complex is putting renewed attention on the risks of charging e-bikes inside apartments, even as New York City expands efforts to provide safer alternatives.
Caleb Matthews died following an Aug. 28 fire in a 12th-floor apartment at the Albany Houses on Troy Avenue in Crown Heights. FDNY officials said a lithium-ion battery caused the fire. Matthews’ family said the battery belonged to an e-bike he was charging in the apartment.
The death brings the issue directly into a housing complex where firefighters have confronted an e-bike battery fire before. In September 2022, FDNY fire marshals determined that charging e-bikes caused a fire at the Albany Houses. Firefighters entered an apartment filled with heavy smoke and rescued two people from a back bedroom.
New York City has tightened rules and expanded safety programs as battery-powered bicycles and scooters have become common transportation. At NYCHA properties, residents may keep and charge e-bikes and e-scooters that can legally be used on city streets, but the housing authority places limits on how and where charging can take place.
NYCHA residents may charge only one e-bike, e-scooter or battery at a time in an apartment. A person who is at least 18 must be present and awake for the entire charging period. Chargers must be plugged directly into wall outlets, and batteries cannot be charged within five feet of a radiator or another direct heat source.
The housing authority also prohibits charging an e-bike, scooter or lithium-ion battery next to an apartment entrance or anywhere it could block a person’s escape. Charging in common areas is prohibited unless NYCHA has specifically designated the location for that purpose. Certain rebuilt, refurbished or otherwise prohibited batteries also cannot be kept or charged in apartments.
Beyond public housing, the city has been trying to create more places where batteries can be charged away from living spaces. Transportation officials adopted rules allowing eligible property owners and tenants to seek approval for battery charging and swapping cabinets on public sidewalks outside certain buildings.
City officials have said the initiative builds on a pilot program that reduced battery charging inside apartments. A city guide issued in 2025 said lithium-ion batteries caused 279 fires and six deaths in New York City during 2024, illustrating the broader danger officials were seeking to address through certified equipment and dedicated charging infrastructure.
The Matthews family is now calling for stronger restrictions on indoor charging. His mother, Angelica Welch, said policies should change to prevent e-bikes from being charged in apartments or homes. His father, Joseph Matthews, specifically warned against storing or charging e-bikes near the only way out of a residence.
Investigators have identified a lithium-ion battery as the cause of the Aug. 28 fire, but the reviewed reports did not establish whether any NYCHA charging rule was violated or identify a specific defect in Matthews’ battery. His family is preparing for a Sept. 19 memorial service as it continues pressing for changes intended to prevent another fatal fire.
Author note: Last updated September 9, 2026.