An explosion erupted at the New York City Housing Authority Albany Houses apartment complex in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Friday evening, killing an 18-year‑old resident. Fire officials said the blaze began around 7 p.m. and was later linked to a lithium‑ion battery from an electric bike, according to a report. The exact location of the e‑bike at the time of the incident has not been confirmed.
First responders dispatched at least 34 fire trucks and emergency vehicles to the public housing development at 162 Troy Avenue. Upon arrival, crews encountered thick smoke and flames emanating from the building, prompting an intensive firefighting effort that continued for roughly an hour.
Emergency personnel found the teenager unconscious inside an apartment and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A neighbor speaking to Pix 11 expressed sorrow for the victim’s family, recalling a recent conversation with the victim’s mother and lamenting the loss of a young child.
Authorities have not released the victim’s name, and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The fire was fully extinguished by about 8 p.m. Residents noted that this was the second fire at the Albany Houses site within two years.
