A massive explosion erupted Wednesday just before 12:30 p.m. at a five-story apartment building at 374 East 209th Street in the Norwood section of the Bronx.
The FDNY received a call regarding an explosion just before 12:30 p.m. at 374 East 209th Street in the Norwood section, and the situation quickly escalated to a five-alarm fire engulfing at least the second and third floors.
Fire officials said two of the five people injured were critically hurt.
The blaze reached five alarms just before 2 p.m.
Police sources told CBS News New York a lithium-ion battery is suspected to have been involved, possibly from an e-bike, although an official determination will be made later.
The explosion sent thick black smoke billowing from the apartment building’s windows.
Video from the scene captured firefighters assisting a person down a smoky fire escape.
Firefighters were racing against time to rescue residents trapped inside.
Firefighters launched searches for people who may have still been inside as crews battled the blaze.
The building sits in the heart of the Bronx’s Norwood neighborhood, home to multiple families.
The five-story structure, built in 1926, contains 27 units.
Emergency response personnel flooded the area as the fire intensified across multiple floors.
The situation quickly escalated to a five-alarm fire engulfing at least the second and third floors.
Residents and neighbors watched in horror as orange flames tore through the building’s facade.
City officials urged nearby residents to take precautions against the heavy smoke.
Crews urged people nearby to avoid smoke and close windows as they continued to put the flames out.
The fire spread rapidly through the structure, forcing first responders to escalate their response.
Traffic came to a standstill across the neighborhood as emergency vehicles arrived.
Firefighters expect traffic delays in the area.
The Department of Health issued urgent warnings to residents in surrounding buildings.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advised residents to avoid smoke exposure by staying indoors with windows closed and limiting outdoor activity where smoke is present.
City officials emphasized the risks faced by vulnerable populations nearby.
People with heart or lung conditions, including asthma, are urged to seek immediate medical attention if they experience shortness of breath or chest pain.
In the viral moment captured on Wednesday afternoon, the five-story Norwood apartment building on East 209th Street was transformed into an inferno within minutes of the initial explosion.
The FDNY received a call regarding a report of an explosion just before 12:30 p.m. at 374 East 209th Street in the Norwood section.
Fire officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the blast that triggered the rapid spread of flames.
There is no word on what sparked the fire, but the initial call came in as a lithium-ion battery explosion, though authorities have not confirmed that.