Seven firefighters were injured following a car explosion in the Longwood section of The Bronx on Wednesday, Nov. 5, FDNY officials said. Fire marshals later said the fire was caused by a discarded cigarette butt.

 

A spokesperson said on Wednesday that the FDNY received a 911 call at 7.06 p.m. that day for a report of a car fire / explosion at 955 Westchester Avenue, Intervalue Avenue, and Kelly Street in the Longwood section of The Bronx.

The address was later updated to 1000 Fox Street.

 

The spokesperson said six firefighters incurred injuries and were transported to Jacobi Medical Center in Morris Park for evaluation, and a press conference was held later at Jacobi Hospital on Wednesday night.

“Firefighters arrived to find multiple cars and rubbish piles on fire,” a spokesperson said of the fire. “While on scene, an explosion occurred injuring seven firefighters.” FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito later said that FDNY members responded to multiple calls for the fire.

 

“The explosion injured seven firefighters, five of them with burns to the hands and the face,” Esposito said. “Three of them are being admitted. The burns are considered serious, but non-life threatening. Our firefighters are awake, alert and speaking, but they have some serious burns, and we’ll be praying for them.”

 

He added, “With quick action by our Emergency Medical Service, they were transported to Jacobi Hospital, where they were given great care by Jacobi Hospital emergency personnel in the trauma and burn center.”

He said FDNY fire marshals were working to determine the cause. Fire officials said the fire was brought under control at 8.19 p.m.

 

On Thursday, Esposito said FDNY fire marshals determined that the fire was caused by “the careless disposal of a cigarette.” He added, “The cigarette set some nearby garbage on fire. The fire then spread to a vehicle parked close by, igniting its gas tank, and causing a major explosion.”

He said five of the seven injured firefighters were treated for serious burns to their arms and faces. “We are thankful that all of these injuries are non life threatening and that our members are expected to make a full recovery,” he said. “We remind New Yorkers to NEVER flick cigarette butts! Please properly extinguish cigarettes BEFORE throwing them away.”

 

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