Partial building collapse in Bronx
A building partially collapsed on Wednesday morning in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, with reports of a gas explosion in the ventilation shaft connected to the boiler in the building. FOX 5 NY’s Arthur Chi’en and Antwan Lewis have the latest.
THE BRONX – A building partially collapsed on Wednesday morning in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, with reports of a gas explosion in the ventilation shaft connected to the boiler in the building, the FDNY said.
What we know:
The partial collapse happened just after 8 a.m. at the NYCHA’s Mitchel Houses complex located on Alexander Avenue. SkyFOX was over the 20-story building, with dozens of firefighters seen on scene assessing the situation.Â
The collapse appears to have taken out a large chunk of a corner of the building. Video shows emergency responders on the ground with dogs searching the rubble. Authorities said no residential units were affected.
The rubble pile was littered with air conditioners, which appear to have been ripped out of apartment windows by the falling bricks. According to reports, there was a gas explosion in the incinerator shaft of the building. No injuries were reported.
Adams presser on the situation
What they’re saying:
New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a presser at 11 a.m. covering the situation.
FULL: Update on Bronx building partial collapse
A building partially collapsed on Wednesday morning in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, with reports of a gas explosion in the ventilation shaft connected to the boiler in the building, the FDNY said.
Adams confirmed that, “At this time, we have no loss of life and no injuries.” Adams warned that people need to avoid the area for the time being.
New York City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker reported that the FDNY was notified of the explosion prior to the collapse, and units responded in less than four minutes.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the incident.
FOX 5 NY’s Arthur Chi’en inquired about work potentially being done on the boiler at the press conference. New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner James Oddo answered in the affirmative: “My understanding is that work was being done on the boiler.”
“It’s not lost on me that on October 1,” Adams said, “it’s the first day that the heating is turned on… All of us should use this as a reminder that your boilers have been sitting idle throughout the entire summer.”
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry told Chi’en that a NYCHA representative was in the boiler room when the explosion occurred.
“It seemed like when [the NYCHA representative] turned on the boiler – this is still under investigation, this is very… preliminary – that there was some sort of malfunction when the boiler was turned on that caused this accident.”
Local perspective:
FOX 5 NY’s Antwan Lewis spoke to some residents of the building at the Mitchel Community Center.
Residents will be temporarily housed in hotels for the next few days until officials approve their return.
The backstory:
Incinerator shafts in New York City buildings were once used to dispose of trash, which was then burned on site. But they have largely been replaced with trash compactors, which can use the same chutes.