A major, multi-departmental response to a 5-alarm, residential fire with injuries is underway in Norwood after a reported explosion at 374 East 209th Street between Decatur Avenue and Parkside Place on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 5.

 

A fire department spokesperson said they received a call for a reported explosion on the third floor of 374 East 209th Street between Decatur Ave and Parkside Place at 12.26 p.m. on Wednesday. They said fire was confirmed on the second and third floors of the 5-story, multiple dwelling.

Fire response on E Gun Hill near the fire at 374 East 209th Street, Norwood, Aug. 5, 2026 V2

The spokesperson said a second alarm was transmitted at 12.37 p.m., a third at 12.47 p.m. a fourth at 1.09 p.m. and a fifth alarm was transmitted at 1.45 p.m. An FDNY spokesperson said that 84 units, comprising  270 Fire/EMS personnel have responded to the scene.

According to EMS, the total patient count is 11, including two civilians with life-threatening injuries, one civilian with serious injuries, five civilians with minor injuries and three firefighters with serious injuries.

Fire response on E Gun Hill near the fire at 374 East 209th Street, Norwood, Aug. 5, 2026 V3

Operations are ongoing. Many streets around the area including a section of Webster Avenue are occupied by emergency vehicles. It is recommended that traffic avoid the area.

Butta, a witness to the fire at 374 E 209th Street in Norwood, The Bronx following an explosion Aug. 5, 2026, describes what she saw. V4

One woman said several pets were trapped inside Apartment BB on the ground floor level. A police officer at the scene said the fire department had already completed a check of all floors.

 

Norwood News has followed up with animal welfare groups to see if anything further can be done.