FDNY fire marshals have issued their initial findings on the cause of the May 22 explosion that killed a Flushing man at a Staten Island boat yard.
Xiaoyuan Li, 56, was the only fatality from the blast that injured more than 30 others at the May Ship Repair Contracting Corp.
“Preliminary findings indicate the fire involved the ignition of flammable vapors associated with industrial-grade paint within the confined space,” the FDNY stated in a post on its official X page.
The two-alarm fire and the explosion are being called accidental.
Published reports have said Li and a coworker were trapped in a confined space at a dry dock. Firefighters looking for them found a fire in a metal structure at about 3:30 p.m. About 50 minutes later there was an explosion
Two firefighters, including one with serious injuries, were among those hurt.
The New York Post reported that Li and his family came from China about 10 years ago.
Councilwoman Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) shared her condolences on X this past Sunday.
“He came to this country seeking opportunity, a story shared by so many in our community,” Ung wrote. “My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.”