Two people have died following the August 20, 2026, fire at La Roka Barber Shop, 31 W. Burnside Ave. in the Bronx. The New York City Fire Department attributed the fire to a lithium-ion battery. News 12 reported that the families of Shanti Quinones and Willy Reyes confirmed their deaths after the fire.
If you were seriously injured or lost a loved one in the La Roka fire, Pritzker Hageman’s burn injury legal team can review what happened and explain your legal options. Call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or request a free consultation online.
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What Happened at La Roka Barber Shop?
The two-alarm fire broke out at about 9:40 p.m. on August 20, 2026, at La Roka Barber Shop, 31 W. Burnside Ave. in the Bronx. The neighboring Ming Wong Chinese restaurant also sustained damage. Six people were initially reported injured. Two later died from their injuries.
The FDNY attributed the fire to a lithium-ion battery. Local news reports described scooters inside the shop, but those reports do not identify which device or battery started the fire. Public reports do not identify the battery manufacturer, seller, brand, or model. They also do not establish whether the battery was charging or whether it had been repaired, replaced, or modified.
What Caused the La Roka Barber Shop Fire?
The FDNY says a lithium-ion battery caused the La Roka Barber Shop fire. The reason the battery failed has not been publicly identified.
A battery can fail because of an internal defect, physical damage, an incompatible charger or replacement battery, improper repair or modification, or another electrical problem. Identifying the specific failure is an important part of determining which products and companies were involved.
Why Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Can Spread So Quickly
Lithium-ion batteries store substantial energy in a small space. If a battery is damaged, overheats, or develops an internal problem, it can enter thermal runaway, a chain reaction that causes the battery to heat rapidly and catch fire.
The U.S. Fire Administration explains explains that these fires can release flammable gases, spread to nearby materials, and restart after the flames appear to be out.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s also warns about incompatible chargers and replacement batteries and batteries that have been improperly repaired or rebuilt.
These same risks are seen in lithium-ion battery fires involving e-bikes, scooters, and other rechargeable devices. Public reporting has not identified why the battery involved in the La Roka fire failed.
Who Can Be Liable for a Lithium-Ion Battery Fire?
A manufacturer, seller, repair company, business operator, or property owner can be liable for a lithium-ion battery fire when its product, work, or unsafe condition contributed to the fire or resulting injuries.
- A battery or device manufacturer can be responsible when a defective product causes or contributes to the fire.
- A seller or distributor can be responsible for supplying a defective battery, device, charger, or replacement part.
- A repair or service company can be responsible when improper work creates a dangerous condition.
- A business operator or property owner can be responsible when an unsafe condition within its control contributes to the fire or resulting harm.
More than one company can share responsibility for the same fire. A legal investigation identifies what failed, how the failure caused the fire, and the role each company played. Pritzker Hageman’s e-bike and lithium-ion battery fire lawyers investigate the product evidence and the companies involved to determine what caused the fire and who is responsible.
What Do New York City’s Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Standards Require?
New York City requires certain e-bikes, e-scooters, and their batteries to meet specific safety standards when they are sold, distributed, leased, or rented.
Under New York City’s certification requirements:
- E-bikes must meet UL 2849.
- E-scooters and other powered mobility devices must meet UL 2272.
- Batteries used in these devices must meet UL 2271.
- An accredited testing laboratory must certify that the product meets the applicable standard.
Investigators first need to identify the battery and device involved in the La Roka fire and trace where they came from. That establishes which safety standards applied and whether the equipment complied with them. Public reporting has not identified the equipment involved or established whether any New York City battery safety requirement was violated.
Why a Legal Investigation Matters After a Fatal Battery Fire
A fire department investigation identifies where a fire started and what caused the ignition. A legal investigation goes further by determining why the failure happened, identifying the companies involved, preserving evidence, and determining who is legally responsible.
In a lithium-ion battery case involving an e-bike or e-scooter, that work includes tracing the battery, device, charger, and replacement parts; reviewing purchase and repair records; examining applicable safety standards; and identifying the manufacturers, sellers, distributors, repair companies, and property owners connected to the fire.
Evidence can disappear quickly after a fire. Damaged batteries and devices can be discarded, surveillance footage can be overwritten, buildings can be repaired, and equipment can be removed. Preserving that evidence is an important step in determining what failed and who is responsible.
Contact Eric today and find out how you can get compensation and justice
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Legal Help After a Serious Battery Fire
Pritzker Hageman represents people seriously injured in fires and families who have lost loved ones in fatal fires across the United States. Our burn injury lawyers investigate the origin and cause of the fire, preserve important evidence, identify the companies involved, and build claims against those responsible.
For an injured survivor, a burn injury claim can include compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, pain, scarring, disfigurement, future care, and other losses allowed by law. When someone dies from fire-related injuries, our attorneys also evaluate wrongful death and estate claims.
Pritzker Hageman also supports the burn survivor community through the firm’s partnership with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.
If you were seriously injured in the La Roka barbershop fire or lost a loved one, call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or contact Pritzker Hageman online. The consultation is free, and there is no attorney fee unless the firm recovers compensation for you.
Bronx Barbershop Battery Fire FAQ
The FDNY attributed the August 20, 2026, La Roka Barber Shop fire to a lithium-ion battery. The specific reason the battery failed has not been publicly identified.
No. Public reports do not identify the manufacturer, brand, or model of the lithium-ion battery involved in the La Roka fire.
That has not been publicly determined. The battery, device, charger, repair history, replacement parts, and other physical evidence can show whether a defect, incompatible component, damage, or improper repair caused the failure.
Yes, when evidence shows that a defective product, negligent repair, unsafe property condition, or another wrongful act caused or contributed to the death. The legal investigation identifies the responsible parties and the claims supported by the evidence.
A battery or device manufacturer, seller, distributor, repair company, business operator, property owner, or another company can be held responsible when its product, work, or unsafe condition caused or contributed to the fire.
Important evidence includes the battery, device, charger, product labels, serial numbers, purchase and repair records, photographs, videos, messages, surveillance footage, witness information, and fire investigation records. Fire-damaged batteries should not be handled or tested without appropriate safety precautions.
Every state sets deadlines, called statutes of limitations, for filing personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death lawsuits. The deadline depends on the type of claim and where the case is filed. An attorney can identify the deadline that applies and help preserve the claim before it expires.
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