An FDNY firefighter was killed and several other people were injured in a home explosion in the Bronx this morning. Firefighters responding to a report of a gas leak at the home, located at 300 W. 234th Street near the corner of Tibbett Avenue in Kingsbridge, found a drug lab and contacted police.
The explosion occurred around 7:30 a.m.killing Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, a married father of three. Injured in the blast were eight firefighters, six police officers, three Con Edison employees and two citizens.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene, along with police, emergency management officials and ConEdison employees. The explosion, which leveled the two-story home, shook the neighborhood like an earthquake, according to witness accounts.
Officials say the house was a suspected marijuana grow lab. These operations use high-powered lights and temperature control systems sometimes powered by stolen electricity. Flammable fertilizers, stores of propane and butane, and jury-rigged electrical systems create an extremely volatile environment.
Those injured at the scene were transported to the hospital. Details have not been released on the nature of the injuries. Explosion injuries can include: burns, smoke inhalation, crush injuries, traumatic brain injury, eardrum rupture an injury to the heart, lungs and liver.