A gas explosion sent fire racing through the top floors of a high-rise apartment building in New York City early Saturday. Authorities said, per the Associated Press, that at least one person died, while 14 others sustained injures. The incident came as temperatures dropped into the single digits overnight amid an incoming winter storm.
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New York City Building Fire Follows Renovations
Firefighters responded shortly before 12:30 a.m. to the 17-story building in the Bronx. People were reportedly leaning out of windows calling for help as flames engulfed parts of the top floors, officials said.
Also, Chief of Department John Esposito said firefighters were investigating reports of a gas odor on the 15th and 16th floors at the time of the explosion. He said there was major structural damage to about a dozen apartments. Additionally, at least 10 apartments on the 16th and 17th floors were damaged by fire.
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Authorities did not immediately release information on the person who died. Officials said another person suffered critical injuries, while five had serious injuries, and eight had minor injuries. The building has been undergoing renovations. Work on the natural gas system had been completed and inspected. Therefore, the cause of the explosion was under investigation.
What Happens Next To Building Residents Impacted?
The building was formerly run by the New York City Housing Authority, but has been under private management since 2024, city officials said.
“It’s an incredible tragedy. We’re sending all our thoughts to the families involved,” Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning said at a morning news conference.
More than 200 fire and emergency crews worked the scene, according to the fire department.
“There were injuries. It was a very, very difficult night on a very cold night, which caused even more difficulty,” Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said.
Officials set up a reception center at a school near the building and the American Red Cross was there to help provide housing and other needs. However, it’s unclear what housing and limits of said help look like.
More Building Chaos In NYC
Around half a million New Yorkers live in aging buildings run by the city’s housing authority, NYCHA, the largest in the nation. Many of the properties date back to the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. In 2019, a federal monitor was appointed to address chronic problems like lead paint, mold and lack of heat. When he wrapped his five-year term in 2024, the monitor, Bart Schwartz, noted that the overarching issue for residents remained the “poor physical state of NYCHA’s buildings.”
In October, a massive brick chimney, 20 stories up the side of a housing authority apartment building in the Bronx, collapsed after an explosion. The incident sent tons of debris plummeting to the ground —amazingly, without injuring anyone. Officials linked it to a natural gas boiler.
Associated Press writer Dave Collins contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
