New York never really sleeps, and honestly, neither does the FDNY. If you’ve been scrolling through social media or catching the local broadcasts lately, you've probably noticed a surge in New York fire news that feels a little more intense than usual. Just this past Saturday, January 17, 2026, a massive three-alarm fire tore through a tire shop in Ridgewood, Queens. It wasn't just a small blaze; it literally caused part of the building to collapse.
Watching the footage of Flushing Avenue was pretty jarring. Smoke so thick you couldn't see the storefronts. At least nine people were hurt, including a pregnant woman and several children. It's the kind of news that makes you double-check your own smoke detector batteries before you hit the hay.
The Ridgewood Collapse and the Winter Surge
Why does it seem like everything is catching fire the second the temperature drops? Well, basically, winter in New York is prime time for structural fires. The Ridgewood fire at 1905 Flushing Avenue is a perfect example of how quickly things go south.
Firefighters were doing what they call an "interior attack"—basically going inside to fight the beast—but they had to bail and switch to an exterior operation because the back of the building started crumbling. When you have tires involved, you're dealing with hydrocarbons. That means the fire is basically feeding on fuel and rubber. The FDNY had to break out the foam to smother the oxygen.
Honestly, the "hydrocarbon" part is what made this one so stubborn. Water doesn't always cut it. You've got 30 people displaced from that one building alone, standing on a Queens sidewalk at 4 a.m. watching their lives go up in smoke. It’s a lot to process.
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Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Still the Main Villain
If we're talking about New York fire news in 2026, we have to talk about batteries. You know the ones—the lithium-ion packs in e-bikes and scooters. Even though the city has been cracking down on "off-brand" chargers, the numbers are still pretty wild.
In 2025, the FDNY responded to over 300 battery-related fires. That’s almost one every single day. The scary part isn't just that they catch fire; it's how they do it. It’s called "thermal runaway." One cell pops, gets too hot, and then it’s a domino effect of explosions and toxic gas.
The Proposed Six-Month Ban
Because of this, New York City lawmakers are currently weighing a six-month moratorium on new Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This is a big deal for the city’s green energy goals, but firefighters are basically saying, "Wait a minute, we need better safety protocols before these things are everywhere."
The FDNY has been loud about this. These fires burn hotter and faster than a normal trash or wood fire. Plus, they can reignite days later. Imagine thinking the fire is out, going to bed, and then the battery in the garage starts screaming again at 2 a.m.
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The Senior Citizen Crisis
Something that hasn't gotten enough headlines in the recent cycle of New York fire news is the impact on the elderly. In late 2025, the FDNY issued an urgent PSA because of a string of fatal fires where every single victim was a senior citizen.
It’s a heartbreaking trend. Whether it’s limited mobility or older apartment wiring that can’t handle modern space heaters, the risk profile for New Yorkers over 65 has spiked. Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker has been pushing for more community outreach, but the reality is that many of these fires are preventable.
Real Talk: What You Should Actually Do
Look, nobody wants to be the person in the news clip standing in a bathrobe while their apartment building is taped off. Based on what’s happening on the ground right now, here is the "non-corporate" advice for staying safe:
- Ditch the cheap chargers. If you bought a $15 replacement charger for your e-scooter on a random site, throw it away. Seriously. It’s not worth the $50,000 in property damage.
- Space heater space. Give those things three feet of "breathing room." Don't plug them into power strips. They draw too much juice and can melt the strip before the breaker even trips.
- The "Closed Door" trick. This is huge. If a fire starts in your kitchen, and you can get out, close the door behind you. It starves the fire of oxygen and can buy your neighbors an extra 10 or 15 minutes of safety.
- Check your detectors today. Not tomorrow. Today. If you live in a building where the landlord isn't maintaining them, call 311.
What’s Next for NYC Fire Safety?
We’re looking at a very active fire season. Between the icy conditions making it harder for crews to hook up to hydrants—like we saw in the recent Yonkers multi-building fire on School Street—and the ongoing battery issues, the FDNY is stretched thin.
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The city is trying to move toward better inspections. They completed nearly 200,000 fire prevention inspections last year, which is a 15% jump. They’re also handing out more summonses for safety violations. It’s a bit of a "tough love" approach, but when you see a building collapse in Ridgewood, you kind of understand why the rules are getting stricter.
Keep an eye on the City Council’s move regarding the battery moratorium. It’s going to be a massive tug-of-war between climate activists and first responders. Honestly, both sides have a point, but the firefighters are the ones who have to walk into the "thermal runaway" smoke, so their voice is carrying a lot of weight right now.
Stay informed by following these steps:
- Download the Notify NYC app for real-time fire and emergency alerts in your specific zip code.
- Visit FDNYsmart.org to request a free smoke alarm installation if you don't have one that works.
- If you use an e-bike for work, check the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection website to see if your battery model meets the UL 2271 safety standard.