A fire and explosion that killed one person and injured more than 30 firefighters and other first responders at a Staten Island shipyard last week started accidentally, the FDNY said Wednesday.
“Preliminary findings indicate the fire involved the ignition of flammable vapors associated with industrial-grade paint within the confined space,” the department said in a social media post.
What You Need To Know
FDNY fire marshals said the Staten Island shipyard fire and explosion was accidental
Officials said flammable vapors linked to industrial-grade paint ignited inside a confined space
One civilian died and more than 30 firefighters and first responders were injured
Firefighters were called to the shipyard on Staten Island’s North Shore around 3:30 p.m. Friday amid reports of a fire and heavy smoke. Authorities also received reports that two workers were trapped in a basement area, according to FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
Less than an hour later, as firefighters and emergency medical personnel were working at the scene, an explosion rocked the site, officials said.
One civilian was killed and another was injured, according to officials.
Authorities said a fire marshal and a firefighter suffered serious injuries, while 29 firefighters sustained minor to moderate injuries and four emergency medical personnel suffered minor injuries. All were taken to area hospitals.
The injured fire marshal, Christopher Cuccaro, suffered a fractured skull and brain bleed, according to the fire department’s chief medical officer, Dr. David Prezant.
The fire and explosion occurred inside a 150-foot-by-150-foot metal structure at the rear of the shipyard, Bonsignore said. About 200 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene.
The surrounding area is home to several businesses, including a coffee roasting company and a self-storage facility. The shipyard was formerly owned by the Bethlehem Steel Company, which built ships for the U.S. Navy during World War II.