NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- One person was found dead inside a Bronx apartment building after an apparent explosion sparked a smokey five-alarm fire on Wednesday, and 14 others were injured to varying degrees, according to the FDNY.
The fire erupted at 374 East 209th St. in Norwood around 12:25 p.m. When firefighters arrived there was "fire blowing out many, many windows," said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
Over 300 FDNY firefighters and EMS members responded to the scene, which Bonsignore called a "difficult fire on a hot and humid day." She said multiple people had to be rescued from the building.
In total, 14 people were injured, including eight civilians, at least one of which was a child. Among those injuries, two were life-threatening, two were serious and four were minor.
Six firefighters were wounded in the response, half minorly and the other half seriously, authorities said.
The FDNY fire marshal still has to enter the building to determine the cause of the initial blast, Bonsignore said.
"What we do know is that there was an explosion, we don’t know what the origin is," she said.
