Gas explosion, fire leave one dead and 14 injured
A gas explosion early Saturday triggered a fire that raced through the top floors of a 17-story apartment building in the Bronx, killing one person and injuring 14 others, authorities said.
Firefighters responded shortly before 12:30 a.m. to the building. Officials said people were seen leaning out of windows calling for help as flames engulfed parts of the top floors amid overnight temperatures that fell into the single digits.
Investigation into reported gas odor
Chief of Department John Esposito said firefighters were investigating reports of a gas odor on the 15th and 16th floors when the explosion occurred. He said there was major structural damage to about a dozen apartments and fires in 10 apartments on the 16th and 17th floors.
Officials did not immediately release information about the person who died. They said one person was critically injured, five had serious injuries and eight had minor injuries.
Officials said the cause of the explosion was under investigation. They also said the building had been undergoing renovations and that work on the natural gas system had been completed and inspected.
Emergency measures for residents
Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning, said at a morning news conference, “It’s an incredible tragedy. We’re sending all our thoughts to the families involved.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said all utilities in the building were shut down and all 148 apartments vacated. Officials set up a reception center for displaced residents at a nearby school, and the American Red Cross was there to help provide housing and other needs.
At a news conference Saturday afternoon, Mamdani said, “As you can imagine, this has been a deeply frightening and devastating morning for them,” and added, “They are not alone. Our city will stand by them and do everything in our power to help them get back on their feet.”
The Red Cross said it had registered more than 100 households and 305 people, including 89 children, for emergency aid by early Saturday afternoon.
Fire crews on cold night; elevator incident
The fire department said more than 200 fire and emergency crews worked the scene. Officials said some firefighters were trapped briefly in an elevator when the explosion occurred.
Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said, “There were injuries. It was a very, very difficult night on a very cold night, which caused even more difficulty.”
Housing backdrop and past incidents
Around half a million New Yorkers live in aging buildings run by the city’s housing authority, known as NYCHA, which is the largest in the nation. Many of the properties date back to the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
The story said a federal monitor was appointed in 2019 to address chronic problems including lead paint, mold and lack of heat. It said that after Bart Schwartz wrapped his five-year term in 2024, he noted that the overarching issue for residents remained the “poor physical state of NYCHA’s buildings.”
In October, a brick chimney running 20 stories up the side of a housing authority apartment building in the Bronx collapsed after an explosion, sending tons of debris plummeting to the ground without injuring anyone. Officials linked it to a natural gas boiler.
Correction note: This report reflects an update that the building was no longer run by NYCHA and had been under private management since 2024.