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Firefighter Killed in Explosion After Reports of Gas Leak in the Bronx Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Killed in Bronx Explosion After Reports of Gas Leak
(about 3 hours later)
One firefighter was killed and at least nine other people were injured in an explosion that destroyed a residential building and damaged others in the Bronx early on Tuesday, New York City officials said. A Fire Department battalion chief was killed and at least a dozen other people were injured in an explosion on Tuesday morning that destroyed a two-story house in the Bronx that was being investigated as a place where marijuana was being grown, New York City officials said.
The firefighter was one of several emergency workers responding to a report of a gas leak at the building in the Kingsbridge neighborhood, which the authorities were called to investigate around 6:20 a.m. The chief, Michael J. Fahy, a 17-year veteran of the department, was one of several emergency workers who responded to a 6:20 a.m. call about a gas leak at the building in the Kingsbridge neighborhood, the officials said.
After firefighters arrived at the building, on West 234th Street, they saw what they thought might be materials used in drug production in the house and called the police, officials said. When firefighters arrived at the building, on West 234th Street, they saw what they thought could be materials used in drug production inside the house and called the police, the officials said. The firefighters also smelled gas. The explosion occurred at about 7:30 a.m.
Around 7:30 a.m., there was an explosion, a spokesman for the Fire Department said. By that time, about 20 members of the department were on the scene, the spokesman said. Speaking at a news conference at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Allen Pavilion in Manhattan on Tuesday morning, Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said Chief Fahy was directing operations on the street when he was struck by debris from the blast. The other people injured were also outside the house, he said.
The death of the firefighter, who was not immediately identified, is the first in the line of duty for the Fire Department since 2014, according to the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York. Mr. Nigro said Chief Fahy, 44, a father of three young children, was “a rising star” of the department.
Images on Tuesday showed the two-story dwelling reduced largely to rubble, a pile of splintered wood and bricks that spilled onto the cars parked in front of it. Chief Fahy had followed his own father, also a battalion chief, into the department, Mr. Nigro added.
Among the injured were seven members of the Police Department, a spokesman said. All were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, he said, adding that a civilian and another firefighter were also injured. The last death in the line of duty for the Fire Department was in 2014, according to the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York.
Jennifer Mullane, who lives a couple of blocks away from the site, said she was in her kitchen washing dishes when a loud boom shook her building. Firefighters, police officers and workers from the utility Consolidated Edison were among those hurt, Mr. Nigro said, adding that none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The police received a tip in the last few weeks about a house on West 234th Street being used to grow marijuana, Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said at the news conference. Officers were in the initial stages of an investigation there, he said.
Images on Tuesday showed the two-story dwelling reduced largely to rubble, a pile of splintered wood and bricks spilled onto the cars parked in front of it. The explosion was felt and heard blocks away.
Jennifer Mullane, who lives a couple of blocks from the site, said she was in her kitchen washing dishes when a loud boom shook her building.
“It felt like it was literally across the street,” Ms. Mullane said. “There was smoke and ashes floating down, like burnt paper.”“It felt like it was literally across the street,” Ms. Mullane said. “There was smoke and ashes floating down, like burnt paper.”
David Khabinsky, 25, a photographer who also lives nearby, said he was getting ready for work when he heard the explosion. David Khabinsky, 25, a photographer who also lives nearby, said he was getting ready for work at the time.
“I thought it was very loud,” he said. “Then five minutes later you hear police sirens, and then helicopter after helicopter after helicopter.”“I thought it was very loud,” he said. “Then five minutes later you hear police sirens, and then helicopter after helicopter after helicopter.”