Photo: DANIEL PERRON / AFP / Getty Images
A cigarette butt discarded carelessly led to a fire and explosion in the Bronx on Wednesday night, injuring seven firefighters. According to the New York City Fire Department, the incident occurred in the Longwood area when a cigarette ignited trash, spreading to a nearby vehicle and causing its gas tank to explode.
FDNY investigators confirmed that the cigarette was thrown by someone standing with a group on a stoop. Surveillance footage captured the moment, showing the cigarette rolling towards the trash. The fire quickly spread, and when someone attempted to extinguish it with water, the flames intensified due to grease in the recycling.
The explosion sent a fireball several stories high, damaging multiple vehicles and sending seven firefighters to the hospital, including five with serious burns. Two firefighters remain hospitalized but are expected to recover fully, according to Dr. Sheldon Teperman at Jacobi Medical Center.
Chief John M. Esposito of the FDNY stated that the fire was brought under control by 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of properly extinguishing cigarettes to prevent similar accidents.
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