FDNY: Lithium-ion battery caused fire on 20th floor of Midtown high-rise, dozens injured

Saturday's high-rise fire in Midtown is the latest of almost 200 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries that the FDNY has investigated this year.

As CBS2's Tim McNicholas reports, one of the first things you see walking into the building is a sign that reads, "No e-bikes allowed beyond this point," but that's not a rule everyone follows.

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Officials on Sunday reported additional injuries connected to Saturday's Midtown high-rise fire.

They say a total of 43 people were injured.

Twenty-six civilians suffered minor injuries, two were seriously injured and two were critically injured.

Eleven firefighters suffered minor injuries, and two police officers also suffered minor injuries.

Saturday morning was chaotic and confusing for residents of the high-rise building. Many of them told CBS2's John Dias they didn't hear any smoke detectors go off, but the smell from the fire is what caused pandemonium.

The FDNY says it's a rare rescue method, but around 10:30 Saturday morning, it was necessary. Four brave first responders used what's called a roof rope rescue to save two people trapped inside an apartment on fire.

Firefighter Arthur Podgorski is one of the heroes who scaled down a part of the high-rise to the 20th floor.

"First identified that we had a victim who was trapped in the window gate. So my role was to go under the victim and start to take her weight, hold her weight so the member above me could free her arm and I could hold her and bring her safely below," he explained.

Neighbors watched in awe, captivated by their skills. Officials say first responders got to the scene in three minutes.

"I can't say enough about the firefighters of New York. They were... the job they did was just amazing. You could see their focus. You could see their safety first, they were going to save this person," witness Amy Bernstein said.

Before the rescue, heavy smoke was seen pouring out of the windows of the unit on East 52nd Street.

Pictures after show what the inside of the apartment and hallway now look like.

Most building residents at first were told to shelter in place, since they live in fireproof apartments, until it was safe to evacuate.

"Smoke was getting much more thick, so it was pretty terrifying," one resident said.

"We had to go down 28 flights of stairs. There was water spilling all from the hoses down the stairs," resident Elizabeth Donohue said.

Jillian Mitchell and her fiancé fled right away before first responders got there to give guidance.

"We got through probably to the 20th floor when the smoke was really bad. We were putting our shirts over our noses," Mitchell said. "I actually did not think we were going to make it."

The two needed medical attention from the FDNY and were hooked up to oxygen, but Mitchell, who has been training for the New York City Marathon, says even this won't stop her.

"I feel confident enough now to say, I'm going to continue with the marathon," she said.

Officials say a lithium-ion battery caused the fire, meant to power a micro-mobility device, like an e-bike. They recovered at least five bikes from the apartment that caught fire.

"We believe the occupant was repairing bikes in the building," said Dan Flynn, chief fire marshal of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation. "These fires, they come without warning. When they do go on fire, they're so intense that any combustibles in the area will catch fire."

The city's chief fire marshal says these types of fires have been increasing. This year, they've had to put out close to 200 caused this way and six people have died.

Firefighters made incredible rescues Saturday, rappelling down the side of the Midtown apartment building to save lives.

As CBS2's Dave Carlin reports, four of New York City's bravest are now being praised by their bosses, colleagues and thankful neighbors.

"We could watch that all from our windows and terrace," Midtown resident Amy Bernstein said. "I saw two women, one hanging out with her upper body and the other climbing out of the window. She grabbed on with her fingertips, so that her body was fully hanging ... Firefighters broke the windows above and below ... and able to bring her into the apartment below."

Two members of the team of four heroes were at an evening news conference -- Belvon Koranteng, who was the first firefighter on the rope, and Arthur Podgorski, who was lowered down to the window.

A third firefighter on the team, Darren Harsch, was sent to another call, and the fourth member, Adam Nordenschild, was in the hospital.

Podgorski did the talking for his team.

"First identified that we had a victim who was trapped in the window gate. So my role was to go under the victim and start to take her weight, hold her weight so the member above me could free her arm and I could hold her and bring her safely below," he explained. "It's not just one person on the rope. It's the members above tying the knots that keep me safe. It's the members that are lowering me. It's the members that are catching me below. It's a whole team effort."

Podgorski said the woman he rescued was "in a lot of pain" and added he hoped she was doing well.  

"There's just nothing but smoke, and then the firefighters appear, and once they were there, they got a handle on it really fast," Midtown East resident Daniel Schwartz said. "Just phenomenal, I mean, to see that."

"I can't say enough about the firefighters of New York. They were... the job they did was just amazing. You could see their focus. You could see their safety first, they were going to save this person," Bernstein said.

Bernstein says she wept with relief at the end of that rescue, calling the firefighters heroes -- something everybody can agree on.

As CBS2's John Dias reports, it's a tactic the FDNY calls a "last resort," but it was first-class rescue.

Video shows brave first responders rappel down from the 21st floor above an apartment on fire to safely rescue two people trapped inside. It's called a roof rope rescue.

"What we saw today was our training, our teamwork and our absolute dedication," FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb said.

"I cannot emphasize enough the extraordinary work of our members this morning, in unbelievably dangerous conditions," FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said.

The commissioner says the fire started around 10:30 Saturday morning on the 20th floor of a high-rise apartment building on East 52nd Street.

Heavy smoke was seen pouring out of the windows from the street below. Most building residents at first were told to shelter in place until it was safe to evacuate.

"Smoke was getting much more thick, so it was pretty terrifying," one resident said.

"Just grateful. We're so happy we were home and got our dog out," another resident said.

The building has fireproof apartments, but still, due to the heavy smoke, getting out was a challenge.

"It smelled like burning plastic," resident Elizabeth Donohue said.

Donohue just moved in Friday. She evacuated with her sister.

"We had to go down 28 flights of stairs. There was water spilling all from the hoses down the stairs," she said.

Officials say a lithium-ion battery caused the fire, meant to power a micro-mobility device like an e-bike.

They recovered at least five bikes from the apartment that caught fire.

"We believe the occupant was repairing bikes in the building," said Dan Flynn, chief fire marshal of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation.

The city's chief fire marshal says these types of fires have been increasing exponentially. This year, they've had to put out close to 200, caused this way.

"These fires, they come without warning. When they do go on fire, they're so intense that any combustibles in the area will catch fire," Flynn said.

The fire marshal also said that this year, these batteries have caused fires that have resulted in six fatalities.

No deaths have been reported in connection to Saturday's fire.