Updated

Updated · New York Daily News · Aug 5

Bronx Gas Blast Kills 1 and Injures 14, Forcing Child Rescue From Five-Alarm Fire

Updated

Updated · New York Daily News · Aug 5

Bronx Gas Blast Kills 1 and Injures 14, Forcing Child Rescue From Five-Alarm Fire

Q: What hidden everyday item might have triggered the devastating Bronx explosion, and is it currently sitting in your apartment?

The item under scrutiny is a lithium-ion battery, most plausibly from an e-bike or e-scooter, but officials have not confirmed that as the cause of the Bronx explosion and fire. Investigators are also examining the possibility of a gas leak, and the FDNY has said the cause remains under investigation. That matters because lithium-ion batteries are now common in apartments, often inside micromobility devices, power tools, hoverboards, laptops, phones and backup chargers. In New York City, fire officials have repeatedly warned that damaged, uncertified or improperly charged batteries can go into thermal runaway, releasing flammable gases, generating intense heat and triggering fast-moving fires or explosions. So yes, a similar battery could already be in an apartment today, even if not attached to an e-bike. The risk is higher when batteries are charged overnight, left near exits, paired with the wrong charger, or show signs of swelling, overheating, odor or damage. The practical takeaway is caution, not panic. Use certified devices and batteries, follow the manufacturer’s charger guidance, avoid charging while asleep or away, and stop using any battery that is hot, swollen, leaking or emitting a strange smell. If a battery appears to be failing, fire departments advise treating it as an emergency because these fires can intensify quickly and reignite.

3 articles · Updated · New York Daily News · Aug 5

A 40-year-old man was found dead in the collapsed third floor of a five-story Bronx apartment building after an explosion and fire on East 209th Street left 14 people injured, including six firefighters and two critically.
FDNY officials now suspect a gas leak triggered the second-floor blast after tenants reported smelling gas beforehand, replacing earlier indications that a lithium-ion battery might have been involved.
Firefighters reached the scene within 3 minutes but faced blown-off doors, shattered windows and a third-floor collapse as flames spread across three floors; dramatic images showed crews pulling a small child from a fire escape.
The blaze was declared under control at 3:30 p.m. but flared again before being extinguished Wednesday evening, while fire marshals still could not enter the wrecked building to pinpoint the flashpoint.
Forty-five people from 18 households, including seven children, sought Red Cross aid after the fire, which damaged a 27-unit building and left the exact cause under investigation.