1 person died, 36 injured after blast at New York City shipyard, officials say

A fire and two explosions occurred at a New York City shipyard, resulting in one civilian death and 36 injuries, mostly among firefighters and first responders. Calls reporting smoke and two workers trapped in the basement of a large metal structure came in around 3:30 p.m. Firefighting and EMS crews arrived within six minutes, but an explosion soon after caused serious injuries to multiple responders and civilians. A firefighter and a fire marshal were inside the structure when the second explosion happened, and both were struck by the blast shock wave. Additional injuries occurred while firefighters and rescue paramedics searched for trapped workers in and around the structure. The fire marshal had a fractured skull and a small brain bleed and was in critical but stable condition.

"Officials said 36 people were injured, most of them firefighters and other first responders, and one civilian died at the scene. A firefighter and a fire marshal were inside the structure when a second explosion happened, and both were seriously injured by the shock wave from the blast. Multiple people called the fire department around 3:30 p.m., reporting smoke and two workers trapped in the basement of a 150-foot by 150-foot (46 meters by 46 meters) metal structure at the back of the shipyard, Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said."

"Firefighting and EMS crews were on the scene within six minutes. But shortly after they arrived, an explosion occurred, causing serious injuries to multiple fire department members and a couple of civilians, Bonsignore said including one who died at the scene. Five firefighters and rescue paramedics were searching for the trapped workers inside, on top of and next to the structure when the second blast occurred, said Chief of Department John Esposito, causing more injuries."

"The most serious injuries happened to a fire marshal and a firefighter who were inside and hit by the energy wave from the blast. “Confined spaces are very dangerous operations for any rescuers,” Esposito said. The fire marshal is in critical but stable condition with a fractured skull and a small brain bleed, said the fire department's chief medical officer Dr. David Prezant."

"“We will be watching him very carefully over the next 24 hours to make certain there is not subsequent brain swelling. As long as there is not, he should do well,” Prezant said. The firefighter was in serious condition when he arrived at the hospital. But Prezant said he was doing “very well” by Friday even"

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