Gas explosion at Eastchester complex leaves 1 dead, 150 displaced
FDNY says crews were responding to reports of a strong gas odor just after midnight when an explosion occurred, turning what was expected to be a routine call into a large-scale, life-saving operation.
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A gas explosion sparked a four-alarm fire at a building on Bivona Street in Eastchester, forcing more than 150 residents out of their homes in near single-digit temperatures, just one day before a winter storm is expected to hit the borough.
FDNY says crews were responding to reports of a strong gas odor just after midnight when an explosion occurred, turning what was expected to be a routine call into a large-scale, life-saving operation. Smoke and flames quickly spread through the building, reaching the 15th, 16th, and 17th floors.
Residents were evacuated into the freezing cold as firefighters battled intense flames. Water used to extinguish the fire rapidly froze, leaving sheets of ice on the ground and along the building. The FDNY says 15 people, including a firefighter, were taken to hospitals. One person died, and another remains in critical condition.
Hours later, Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited the Rosa Parks Educational Campus, where displaced residents are receiving assistance from the Red Cross. Fire marshals continue to investigate the cause of the explosion as residents await next steps, now facing an approaching winter storm.
The DOB issued an initial report on the explosion, saying the blast caused significant structural damage. However, it says the building's frame and superstructure "were found to be stable." A full vacate order has been issued with the intention of getting residents "back into their homes as quickly as we can." Some were able to reenter the building to collect essential items and personal belongings.
