By SÍLE MOLONEY

CON EDISON PERSONNEL are seen outside 18 East 198th Street in Bedford Park, The Bronx where the building was  evacuated after a gas leak / explosion was reported in the basement boiler room on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 
Photo by Síle Moloney

There were no injuries reported following a gas leak inside a residential building in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx on Tuesday, March 31, according to the FDNY.

 

A CON EDISON vehicle is seen at 18 East 198th Street in Bedford Park after residents were evacuated when a gas leak / explosion was reported in the basement boiler room on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Photo by Síle Moloney

An FDNY spokesperson said the department received a call on Tuesday at 11.57 a.m. for a report of a gas explosion in the basement of a 6-story, multiple dwelling (50×100) at 18 East 198th Street located between Jerome Avenue and Creston Avenue.

 

Gas leak at 18 East 198th Street, Bedford Park, The Bronx, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Video by Síle Moloney

The spokesperson said 21 units comprising 79 fire and EMS personnel were deployed and were later seen at the scene, while residents evacuated the building, some telling Norwood News people had been banging on neighbors’ doors, raising the alarm until everyone was out.

 

RESIDENTS OF 18 East 198th Street in Bedford Park were evacuated after a gas leak / explosion took place in the basement boiler room on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, after a gas explosion / leak occurred.
Photo by Síle Moloney

The FDNY spokesperson added, “Evacuations initiated then rescinded. No injuries.”

 

Con Edison personnel were later seen on scene, the incident was deemed under control at 12.25 p.m. and the cause is under investigation.

RESIDENTS OF 18 East 198th Street in Bedford Park were evacuated after a gas leak / explosion took place in the basement boiler room on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 
Photo by Síle Moloney

Norwood News reached out to Con Edison for more information and asked if there was or was not an explosion, given there were conflicting reports from residents, with one woman saying the building shook and that she heard a loud boom while another male resident said he heard nothing but that there had been gas and smoke coming from the boiler room.

 

Jamie McShane, a Con Edison spokesperson, replied, saying, “There was no Con Edison involvement with this incident. There was an issue with the customer’s boiler and is with the customer for further action.”

RESIDENTS OF 18 EAST 198th Street in Bedford Park were evacuated from their building on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, after a gas explosion / leak occurred.
Photo by Síle Moloney

Norwood News has reached out to the super and management company for an update and will share any further information we receive.

 

We had previously reported on a Stop Work Order that had been in place by NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) at a construction site located across the street from where the gas incident occurred.

 

SOME RESIDENTS OF 18 East 198th Street in Bedford Park are seen outside their building on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, after a gas explosion / leak occurred.
Photo by Síle Moloney

When asked by Norwood News at the scene, a workman from that construction site said the gas systems of the two buildings were not connected. More to follow.