Staten Island, New York — A powerful explosion and fire at a Staten Island shipyard on Friday resulted in one fatality and injured 35 people, the majority of them New York City firefighters.
Officials confirmed the deceased was a civilian. Another civilian was among the injured, along with at least 34 members of the New York City Fire Department.
Emergency crews were dispatched around 3:30 p.m. after reports of a fire in the basement of a metal structure located at the rear of the shipping dock. Upon arrival, responders faced heavy smoke and severely limited visibility. Two workers were reportedly trapped inside the basement at the time.
Roughly 50 minutes after initial reports, a major explosion occurred at the scene. Firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
