Overview
- A powerful blast struck the third floor of the five‑story building at 374 East 209th Street around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday and quickly spread fire to the second and third floors.
- The Fire Department of New York escalated the response to a five‑alarm assignment and deployed roughly 270 firefighters to search the building and bring the blaze under control.
- Early casualty reports varied across outlets with officials first reporting two people critically injured and three hospitalized, while other reporting later cited totals as high as 11 injured; multiple firefighters were also hurt.
- Police cordoned surrounding streets, search teams found structural collapses on upper floors, Con Edison shut off gas service, and the American Red Cross registered dozens of displaced residents for aid.
- Investigators will examine debris, appliance and device remains once the scene is secure to determine cause, and officials have not confirmed preliminary caller reports that suggested a lithium‑ion battery ignited the blast.