A dramatic explosion in the Bronx early Wednesday evening left seven New York City firefighters injured after a vehicle erupted into flames on Intervale Avenue near Kelly Street. The incident occurred as the crew responded to a fire involving a van and debris, which rapidly escalated into a massive fireball around 7:06 p.m.
Officials say three of the injured firefighters sustained serious burns and were hospitalized, while the remaining four were treated for minor injuries. Most of the burns were concentrated on the hands and faces of the responders. A hazmat unit and fire-investigation team have been dispatched, and the scene remains cordoned off as authorities probe the cause of the blast and assess structural damage to nearby buildings.
The fire was declared under control by 8:19 p.m., but the explosion sent flames and smoke towering into the sky, and the incident has drawn widespread attention, raising questions about fire-safety conditions and urban waste-management risks in the neighborhood.