FDNY says 1 died, 34 injured in Staten Island explosion, New York City
One person died after an explosion and fire at a Staten Island shipyard in new york city on Friday, and 34 FDNY members were injured in the response. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said firefighters tried to save the person who died.
The fire department said the first report came around 3:30 p.m., when workers were reported trapped at 3075 Richmond Terrace between Lockman Avenue and Andros Avenue. A fire in the back of the shipyard followed, then a major explosion around 4:20 p.m.
3075 Richmond Terrace
John Esposito, the FDNY chief of department, said firefighters were inside the structure when a second blast hit. "While we were conducting these searches, a second explosion occurred and we had firefighters inside," he said. The incident left nearly three dozen first responders injured, with one worker dead and another worker injured after getting out.
The most serious injuries were among FDNY members. Christopher Cuccaro, identified as a fire marshal on a special search and rescue team, was intubated and in critical condition. Firefighter Vincent Delgado remained in serious condition. Cuccaro's search dog was uninjured.
Lillian Bonsignore
Bonsignore said, "We got very lucky this day. We got lucky in the sense that none of our people were killed. It's unfortunate that we have one fatality and they did everything they could to that person," while Chief Medical Officer David Prezant described the injuries as blast-related trauma in a confined space. He said, "They're suffering from something that is silent, which is a blast energy. In a confined space, that energy hits you and can penetrate organs," as the cause of the fire remained under comprehensive investigation.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, "That is the story of this fire as well. It is first responders from across the city rushing in to try to save the lives of those in danger. And in doing so exposed themselves as well to that danger," and the injured firefighters now face a recovery that starts with the two most serious cases. The fire department's account leaves the public with a clear next step: wait for the investigation into what set off the blasts and what caused the fire.
