Investigators are examining whether a lithium-ion battery sparked the Friday night blaze at the Albany Houses in Crown Heights.
NEW YORK CITY, NY — An 18-year-old man died after an explosion and fire broke out Friday night in a 12th-floor apartment at the Albany Houses, a New York City Housing Authority complex in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, police and fire officials said.
Emergency crews responded shortly after 7 p.m. Aug. 28 to 162 Troy Ave., near Prospect Place. Authorities had received a report of an explosion at an apartment in the public housing development. Firefighters and police arriving at the building encountered smoke and flames, and the apartment involved was heavily filled with smoke.
Police said officers found the 18-year-old man inside an apartment. He was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later pronounced dead. Authorities had not publicly released his identity as of Saturday. No additional deaths were reported in the available official accounts.
The response brought at least 34 fire trucks and other first responder vehicles to the scene, according to the Fire Department of New York. Residents described the blaze as moving quickly through the apartment. Firefighters brought the fire under control in just under an hour, according to local reports citing fire officials.
Investigators are examining a lithium-ion battery as a possible source of the fire. FDNY officials told local news outlets they believe a lithium-ion battery may have started the blaze, while police sources told NY1 that an e-bike battery was a likely source. Authorities have not announced a final determination, and the exact cause remains under investigation.
The distinction remains important because investigators have not yet publicly established what caused the reported explosion or whether the battery under examination was responsible for both the explosion and the fire. Officials have not released additional details about the device or the circumstances immediately before the blaze.
The Albany Houses are a NYCHA public housing development in Crown Heights. The fatal fire occurred on the 12th floor of the building at 162 Troy Ave. Authorities have not publicly identified other residents who may have been inside the affected apartment when emergency crews arrived.
Police and fire officials continued investigating the incident Saturday. The victim’s name had not been released, and authorities had not announced a final cause for the explosion or fire.
Author note: Last updated August 29, 2026.