Story perspectives

Bronx Explosion Kills One, Injures 14, Firefighters Wounded

8/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said one died and 14 injured in an August 5, 2026 explosion at 374 East 209th St., Bronx.
Chief John Esposito said fire engulfed second and third floors, collapsing the third onto the second.
Over 300 firefighters and EMS responded, with six firefighters seriously wounded.
Eighteen residents, including a child, were displaced.
Con Edison cut gas and power, with investigators saying cause is unknown, though police cited lithium-ion battery.

History

Historical Context

After a March 2013 gas blast killed one resident on the Bronx’s 125th St., New York launched a $2 million pipe-inspection program. The 2014 East Harlem explosion, which killed eight and injured dozens, led the NTSB to fault Con Edison’s faulty welding and a neglected sewer hole, prompting a $153 million settlement in 2017. The August 2026 Bronx lithium-ion battery blast revives those safety concerns.

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Story summary

Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said one died and 14 injured in an August 5, 2026 explosion at 374 East 209th St., Bronx.
Chief John Esposito said fire engulfed second and third floors, collapsing the third onto the second.
Over 300 firefighters and EMS responded, with six firefighters seriously wounded.
Eighteen residents, including a child, were displaced.
Con Edison cut gas and power, with investigators saying cause is unknown, though police cited lithium-ion battery.

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