5-year-old, 36-year-old woman die in East Harlem fire sparked by electric scooter

NEW YORK - A 5-year-old girl and a 36-year-old woman are dead and another adult is in critical condition after an early morning fire in the East Harlem section of Manhattan.

According to the FDNY, the flames broke out around 2:37 a.m. in apartment #6M at the Jackie Robinson Houses at E. 129th St. and Lexington Ave.

The flames killed Erica Williams, 5, and Chakaina Anderson, 36. 

Williams' 46-year-old father. Leroy Williams was critically injured in the fire and was rushed him to NYC Health & Hospitals/Harlem for treatment.

Fire officials say they believe that lithium-ion batteries on an e-scooter or e-bike near the apartment's door started the fire, trapping the three victims. 

Two additional devices with similar batteries, a hoverboard and e-scooter, were also found in the apartment.

According to the FDNY, so far in 2022, there have been 121 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries on e-scooters or e-bikes, resulting in 5deaths and 66 injuries.

In 2021, there were 104 fires, resulting in four deaths and 79 injuries. 

There is no word on the cause at this time but fire officials say the fire was contained to one apartment.

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The identities of the victims were being withheld until relatives could be contacted.