Seven firefighters from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) were injured on Wednesday evening after a burning vehicle exploded in the Longwood section of the Bronx near Intervale Avenue and Kelly Street. The blast occurred shortly after crews arrived at what was reported as a fire involving trash and debris, and it sent a massive fireball into the night sky that engulfed the sidewalk and vehicles nearby.
Three of the firefighters were hospitalized at Jacobi Hospital with serious burns to their hands and faces, while four others sustained minor injuries. Officials said all were awake and alert, with no life-threatening conditions reported. Fire-investigation personnel, a hazmat team, and fire-prevention units were dispatched to examine the scene, which remained hazardous due to debris and residual fires.
No civilians were reported injured, but the incident has raised questions about the safety risks first responders face when dealing with vehicle or outdoor-trash fires in dense urban environments. The investigation will focus on the cause of the explosion and whether combustible materials near the sidewalk allowed for such a rapid escalation.
