NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- An explosion in Brooklyn on Friday morning destroyed three homes but injured no one, officials said as they investigate the cause after residents reported smelling gas.
The explosion happened at a vacant home on Bay 35th Street, near Benson Avenue, in Gravesend around 7 a.m.
Neighbors said they heard a loud boom and went outside to find the vacant home had collapsed and two neighboring homes were damaged.
Citizen App video shows flames and smoke pouring from the home amid a heavy FDNY presence. The fire department said more than 100 firefighters and EMS responded.
Two families were in a pair of neighboring buildings, but no one was injured, fire officials said at a press conference. A total of six people were being assisted by the Red Cross.
No one was reported missing, but the FDNY said crews would sift through the rubble as a precaution.
Fire marshals are investigating reports of an odor of gas in the area. Residents had reportedly complained of a gas odor for weeks, but the FDNY said it had no records of calls to the department.
The city Department of Buildings said its inspectors were also at the scene to assist with the investigation.
Heavy equipment will be brought in to demolish the three buildings, as they are structurally unstable, officials said. No other buildings on the block are under a vacate order as of Friday morning.
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