The FDNY conducted an inspection early June 26 at the 91 Canal E-Bike shop and uncovered numerous violations and imminent safety hazards. Just a week after the deadly fire at 80 Madison Street caused by E-bike batteries which claimed 4 victims, a team of FDNY inspectors found similar conditions at 91 Canal Street.
Inspectors found over 120 improperly stored batteries for charging, overloaded extension boards, and illegally refurbished batteries. The batteries were promptly removed from the premises along with several drums with unknown substances.
The buildings department (DOB) issued a vacate order for the premises after it was found the E-bike repair shop had illegally operated 2 SRO (single room occupancy) rooms in the back of the shop.
The Chinatown and Lower East side has a high concentration of similar E-Bike repair shops mostly located within century old tenements which are tinderboxes in a fire. After an alarming number of casualties caused by numerous lithium-ion batteries across the city the mayors office has encouraged residents to call 311 to report an unsafe condition and city inspectors will respond within a day,
Meanwhile residents go to bed not knowing if they are sitting on a ticking time bomb.