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The devastating Bronx apartment fire sparked by an e-bike battery has now claimed the lives of four relatives — as three of them died days after the horrific blaze, officials said.
The inferno erupted around 12:50 a.m. Wednesday in the kitchen of an 11th-floor apartment at NYCHA’s Patterson Houses, trapping residents inside as the flaming e-bike blocked their only escape route, according to the FDNY.
A 10-year-old boy — identified in reports as Zion Maine — was the first person killed by the fire.
Four of his family members were hospitalized in grave condition, and on Friday three of them — two boys, ages 15 and 16, and a 33-year-old woman died from their injuries, officials said.
Relatives told the Daily News that Zion and the two older teenage boys were half-brothers.
The oldest teen was identified as Jamaree Adam and the woman who died was his mom, Syida Adam, the newspaper reported.
Syida was the girlfriend of Zion’s 37-year-old father, Courtney, who remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The family’s apartment became a death trap due to the doomed e-bike, fire officials said.
“An e-bike was placed in the pathway of the exit door,” FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore told reporters early Wednesday.
“It was placed at a spot in the kitchen that made it impossible for the residents to leave safely.”
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said firefighters had to force open the unit’s front door, which was blocked by the burning battery and bike.
“When that door opened, it opened into a heavy fire,” Esposito recalled.
“The e-bike and the kitchen were right inside that door.”
“There was a victim behind the door that they quickly removed and was transported to the hospital.”
Zion was also initially rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, where he could not be saved, authorities said.
“He loved basketball,” a neighbor who is close with the family said of the boy.
“He was young, vibrant, funny, very energetic. He would shock you sometimes with the things he says,” the neighbor told The Post.
He especially loved flavored ice popsicles that his mom gave him “all week, every week,” the neighbor said.
The boy was reserved and was never going “around looking for no trouble,” said neighbor Cynthia Ayala, 32.
“He stay out people’s way,” she added. “He don’t be in trouble, it’s not like he was a bad [kid].”
Courtney reportedly worked at a car wash and made a modest living for the family.
Another neighbor who identified himself as Tony told The Post the boy’s father “worked at the car wash, making a little bit of money for his family.”
“We all have cookouts out here, we all hang out,” he added. “The 11th floor is a tight knit floor, we like family.”
