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BRONX – Seven firefighters were hospitalized Wednesday night after a garbage fire spread to several parked cars and triggered a powerful explosion in the Bronx, officials said.
FDNY officials described the explosion as "a wall of fire" that engulfed the responding firefighters.
What we know:
Emergency crews were called to 955 Westchester Avenue near Intervale Avenue and Kelly Street just after 7:00 p.m. for reports of a fire in the street. According to FDNY officials, flames from a pile of burning garbage quickly spread to nearby vehicles before an explosion sent a "wall of fire" toward firefighters working to contain the blaze.
Seven firefighters were injured, suffering burns to their hands and faces. Fire officials said three of them were admitted to a nearby hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
All seven were described as awake, alert, and in stable condition.
The fire was brought under control at 8:19 p.m. Fire marshals and an FDNY hazmat team remained on the scene to investigate the cause of the explosion.
Witnesses described the terrifying moments leading up to the blast.
"When I came out, I heard a boom — like a big flash," said one nearby resident. "I just seen all the smoke in the air, and then the fire. It just looked crazy."
Officials said they are reviewing surveillance video from nearby businesses to determine how the initial garbage fire started.
The Source: This report is based on information from the FDNY.
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