Lithium-ion battery fire destroys Circuit shuttles in downtown New Rochelle garage
Fire officials say the blaze started around 2 p.m. inside an EV charging area at the New Rochelle City Garage.
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Smoke filled parts of downtown New Rochelle Tuesday afternoon after a lithium-ion battery fire tore through a parking garage on Harrison Street — destroying five vehicles, including two city-operated Circuit mini buses.
Fire officials say the blaze started around 2 p.m. inside an EV charging area at the New Rochelle City Garage.
“It started in an EV charging area,” said Assistant Chief Sean Denigris of the New Rochelle Fire Department.
Chief Andrew Sandor said lithium-ion battery fires can be especially difficult to extinguish.
“The lithium-ion batteries, they’re hard to put out,” Sandor said.
Officials say firefighters quickly knocked down the flames, but concerns remained because of a daycare located across the street on Valley Place. Children inside the building sheltered in place and did not need to evacuate.
No major injuries were reported, though the aftermath left several commuters and residents scrambling to determine whether their vehicles were damaged.
Among those anxiously waiting was Megan G., who feared her car may have been destroyed in the fire. After viewing exclusive footage from the scene, she learned her vehicle was unharmed.
“As close as it was, my car’s OK,” she said.
Firefighters say a garage employee spotted the flames and ran across the street to Fire Station One, allowing crews to respond almost immediately.
“There were several Circuit vehicles in the fire area that ended up on fire,” Denigris said.
The city has operated the Circuit transit shuttle system since 2019. According to Circuit, the electric shuttle service now operates in more than 50 communities across the United States.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
