On Friday evening, the familiar wail of sirens once again echoed through South Richmond Hill, Queens, as King Electronic Hub—an e-bike shop at 119-07 Liberty Avenue—became the scene of another dramatic fire. For locals, the sight was unsettlingly familiar: this was not the first time the shop had gone up in flames. Just last year, the same store had experienced a similar blaze, both incidents casting a spotlight on the growing hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries in urban environments.
According to the FDNY, the latest fire broke out around 7:08 p.m. on October 17, 2025, drawing a rapid and robust response. Sixty firefighters and EMS personnel raced to the scene, battling the flames that had erupted on the first floor of the mixed-use building near the corner of Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue. The fire was brought under control by 7:41 p.m., but not before it caused significant damage and left one person injured. Emergency services transported the injured individual to a nearby hospital, though the extent of their injuries was not immediately disclosed.
The cause of Friday’s fire is still under investigation by FDNY fire marshals. While the exact trigger has yet to be determined, the incident is eerily reminiscent of a previous fire at the same location. On January 6, 2024, the shop suffered a lithium-ion battery fire that broke out around 10:40 p.m., after business hours. In that earlier incident, surveillance footage obtained by the FDNY revealed a row of stored e-bikes suddenly igniting, sending a shower of sparks and thick smoke billowing through the store. "Cause of Saturday's 2-alarm fire at an e-bike shop located at 119-07 Liberty Ave. in QNS was a lithium-ion battery," the FDNY stated in the aftermath of the 2024 incident, making the connection between the batteries and the blaze explicit.
The 2024 fire, while dramatic, was fortunately less destructive in terms of human harm. No injuries were reported, though the experience was harrowing for those nearby. An upstairs residential tenant, according to the FDNY, heard "three loud pops and smelled smoke" as the batteries began to burn. The shop was closed at the time, a fact that likely prevented a more serious outcome. Security video from that night showed the progression of the fire: what began as a smoking battery quickly escalated to a full-blown inferno, with flames engulfing the e-bikes and threatening the integrity of the building itself.
Fast-forward to October 17, 2025, and the sense of déjà vu is hard to avoid. Once again, a fire at King Electronic Hub has disrupted the neighborhood and raised pressing questions about safety, regulation, and the risks of lithium-ion battery storage in densely populated areas. Although the fire’s cause has not yet been officially determined, the parallels to the previous incident are striking. Both fires originated in the same part of the building, both involved e-bike storage, and both required a large-scale emergency response. The difference this time was the unfortunate injury of a bystander or employee, underscoring the potential for tragedy when such hazards are not fully addressed.
The building itself is a two-story, mixed-use structure, housing both commercial and residential tenants. This configuration is common in New York City, where space is at a premium and businesses often operate on the ground floor with apartments above. Such arrangements can complicate emergency responses and amplify the risks when fires break out. In the 2024 incident, the fire occurred while the shop was closed, but the presence of residential tenants meant that the threat extended beyond property damage to the safety of those living above.
According to reporting by WABC and the New York Daily News, the FDNY has been increasingly vocal about the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries, particularly as the use of e-bikes and electric scooters surges in the city. These batteries, while efficient and compact, can become unstable if damaged, improperly charged, or stored in large quantities—conditions that are not uncommon in small, high-volume retail environments. The fire at King Electronic Hub is just the latest in a string of similar incidents across New York, prompting calls for stricter safety standards and better public awareness.
Fire marshals are now combing through the aftermath of the latest blaze, looking for clues that might explain why the fire started and whether it could have been prevented. While the investigation is ongoing, the store’s history with lithium-ion battery fires will no doubt be a central focus. In both cases, the rapid escalation of the fire—from a single smoking battery to a full-fledged inferno—demonstrated how quickly things can go wrong when these energy-dense devices fail.
The response from emergency services was swift and coordinated. With approximately 60 firefighters and EMS personnel on site, the fire was brought under control within about half an hour. Their efforts likely prevented a far worse outcome, especially given the mixed-use nature of the building and the potential for the fire to spread to adjacent businesses or apartments. The injured individual was promptly transported to a local hospital, where their condition remains unknown.
For residents and business owners in South Richmond Hill, the repeated fires at King Electronic Hub are a sobering reminder of the risks that come with modern conveniences. E-bikes and electric scooters have become a staple of urban life, offering affordable and efficient transportation options. But as their popularity grows, so too does the need for robust safety protocols—both in terms of how batteries are stored and how shops like King Electronic Hub manage their inventory.
The FDNY has urged shop owners and consumers alike to follow best practices for charging and storing lithium-ion batteries. This includes using only manufacturer-approved chargers, avoiding overcharging, and keeping batteries away from flammable materials. As the investigation into the latest fire continues, it’s likely that officials will renew their calls for vigilance and perhaps push for new regulations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the community is left to pick up the pieces—again. For the second time in less than two years, King Electronic Hub faces extensive repairs and the challenge of regaining the trust of its neighbors. The repeated fires have cast a long shadow over the business, raising uncomfortable questions about oversight, accountability, and the true cost of embracing new technologies without adequate safeguards.
As fire marshals work to determine the precise cause of Friday night’s blaze, one thing is clear: the story of King Electronic Hub is a cautionary tale for cities everywhere. The promise of e-bikes and electric mobility comes with hidden perils, and without proper attention to safety, those perils can erupt—literally—without warning.