There were no injuries reported following a suspected gas leak inside a residential building in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx on Tuesday, March 31, according to the FDNY. The property manager alleges there was no gas leak or explosion.

 

An FDNY spokesperson said the department received a call on Tuesday at 11.57 a.m. for a report of a gas explosion in the basement of a 6-story, multiple dwelling (50×100) at 18 East 198th Street located between Jerome Avenue and Creston Avenue.

 

THE SCENE AT 18 East 198th Street, Bedford Park, The Bronx, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, after a report of a suspected gas leak / explosion. Video by Síle Moloney

The spokesperson said 21 units comprising 79 fire and EMS personnel were deployed and were later seen at the scene, while residents evacuated the building, some telling Norwood News people had been banging on neighbors’ doors, raising the alarm until everyone was out.

 

The FDNY spokesperson continued, “Evacuations initiated then rescinded. No injuries.” The spokesperson added that Con Edison personnel were later on scene, the incident was deemed under control at 12.25 p.m. and the cause is under investigation by the FDNY.

 

Norwood News reached out to Con Edison press office for more information and asked if there was or was not an explosion, given there were conflicting reports from residents, with one woman saying the building shook and that she heard a loud boom, while another male resident said he heard nothing but that there had been gas and smoke coming from the boiler room, located in the basement.

Another female resident alleged there were people living at the basement level and that it was not the first time she had heard a lot of strange activity and noise coming from that level.

 

Jamie McShane, a Con Edison spokesperson, replied, saying, “There was no Con Edison involvement with this incident. There was an issue with the customer’s boiler and is with the customer for further action.”

Norwood News reached out to one of the contact numbers for the management team listed inside the building and a man who later identified himself solely as the property manager said by phone, “There was no explosion. It was just an issue with the boiler and the gas.” Asked what the issue was, he said, “The boiler’s not working and we have a plumber on site taking care of the boiler and the gas issue but there was nothing else.”

 

Norwood News asked for a comment on what the resident alleged about hearing a boom and the building shaking. He replied, “Yeah, people can tell you whatever they want but none of that is true.” We asked if there was a gas leak, and he said, “No, there wasn’t.” He referred us to HPD for a list of the problems with the building. See summary further below. We asked the property manager when he anticipated the issues would be resolved and he said, “I’m not quite sure.”

 

Norwood News also asked for comment on what the female resident alleged about noise and strange activity in the basement. The property manager said, “Yeah, we have legal units in the basement, yes, but that’s about it.”

According to HPD Online, the portal for NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), there are 34 open violations in respect of the building, some related to the boiler room. All HPD-related complaints are closed. There is one housing court heat and hot water litigation pending. Eight other litigation items have been closed, many also relating to heat and hot water.

Norwood News has reached out to DOB for any information they have on the incident and will update this story upon receipt of any further information we receive.