A five-alarm fire at a Bronx apartment building Wednesday afternoon left three people with serious injuries and several others with minor injuries, according to the FDNY.
Firefighters responded to reports of an explosion just before 12:30 p.m. at 374 East 209th St. in Norwood.
The blaze grew quickly, reaching a fifth alarm by 1:45 p.m. and drawing more than 270 firefighters and emergency service personnel to the scene. A video posted by FDNY on social media showed flames in the building and thick smoke billowing from the windows.
Three civilians were seriously injured and five others suffered less serious injuries, according to the department. Three firefighters were also injured.
Authorities were encouraging nearby residents to avoid the smoke and close their windows.
The cause of the reported explosion and fire was not immediately clear. The operation remained ongoing on Wednesday afternoon.
This is a developing news story and may be updated.