One person has died and several others were injured after an explosion at a Bronx apartment building sparked a five-alarm fire that spread through several units, according to the FDNY.
FDNY Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said firefighters responded to reports of an explosion at 374 E. 209th St. in the Bronx shortly before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. The building is about 5 miles from the Westchester County border.
Within minutes, firefighters encountered heavy fire, with flames shooting from multiple windows of the five-story building. Heavy fire conditions were reported inside on the second floor, and the force of the explosion appeared to blow several doors off their hinges, Bonsignore said.
More than 300 FDNY members, including EMS personnel,
responded to the fire.
Bonsignore said firefighters faced difficult conditions because of the heat and humidity.
The fire eventually spread to three floors. Part of the third floor collapsed into the second floor, prompting officials to remove firefighters from inside the building. Firefighters remained at the scene into Wednesday night.
18 households displaced by Bronx fire
Several residents were rescued from their homes. Officials initially reported that seven civilians were injured, including a child. Four firefighters also were injured and taken to area hospitals.
The fire was placed under control around 8 p.m.
One person was later found dead inside an apartment, and three additional people were hospitalized with injuries, according to the FDNY.
Eighteen households — including 37 adults and seven children — were displaced by the fire and were receiving assistance from the American Red Cross of Greater New York.
The Red Cross is providing assistance to residents affected by the fire, including help with emergency housing and other immediate needs.
Firefighters rescued residents
Several residents needed to be rescued from the building during the fire.
"We had multiple people who needed to be rescued out of the building. Our FDNY firefighters and EMS members did an extraordinary job — there were multiple examples of heroism," Bonsignore said.
"The firefighters were rescuing people from the building and EMS was providing lifesaving treatment right on the scene, saving multiple lives," she said.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: 1 dead, several injured after Bronx apartment explosion sparks 5-alarm fire
