1 dead, 14 injured after explosion and fire at Bronx apartment building
One person was killed and 14 others were injured after an explosion and five-alarm fire tore through an apartment building in the Bronx, according to officials. Two civilians suffered life-threatening injuries.
The fire was reported at around 12:26 p.m. Wednesday at 374 East 209th Street. Firefighters arrived within three minutes and found heavy flames blowing from multiple windows.
Officials said an explosion blew window frames across the street and knocked apartment doors off their hinges on the second floor. The missing doors allowed flames to spread from an apartment into the hallway, up the stairs and into neighboring units.
Firefighters rescued multiple residents as the fire spread across three floors. Paramedics met firefighters inside the building and administered life-saving medication before patients were taken to hospitals.
Part of the third floor eventually collapsed into the second floor, forcing firefighters to withdraw from the building. Search and rescue teams later found one person dead inside.
Eight civilians were injured, including two with life-threatening injuries, two with serious injuries and four with minor injuries. One of the victims is a child under 1 year old whose injuries were believed to be minor.
Six firefighters were also injured. Three suffered serious injuries and three others had minor injuries.
More than 300 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded as crews worked in hot and humid conditions. The building contains 27 apartments, and at least 18 residents had been displaced as of Wednesday afternoon.
Officials said crews would remain at the scene throughout the night.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Fire marshals will investigate once the building is safe to enter.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
