7 FDNY firefighters injured after massive car explosion in Longwood
The FDNY was called to 955 Westchester Ave. just after 7 p.m. Wednesday.
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Seven FDNY firefighters are recovering after a massive car explosion rocked the Longwood section of The Bronx on Tuesday night, injuring multiple first responders and damaging several vehicles, including a fire truck.
Two of the seven firefighters remain in the hospital on Thursday afternoon. The others have been released.
Officials say firefighters were responding to a trash fire near Westchester Avenue around 7 p.m. when the flames spread to a nearby car — triggering a sudden explosion that sent a massive fireball shooting several stories high.
Video captured by witnesses shows the blast engulfing the street and reaching the windows of nearby apartments. The intense flames also ignited nearby trees and debris.
Thursday morning, only the shell of what was once two cars remain. One woman who witnessed the explosion said she was left shaking long after the flames were put out.
“I was shaking for some time, I was shaking for half an hour already. It was black smoke, explosion — the trees caught fire too, the firefighters had to extinguish that as well. It was really bad,” the eyewitness said.
FDNY officials say all seven firefighters suffered burns to their hands and faces. The damaged fire truck was towed away from the scene overnight.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
