Gas Explosion Kills 1, Injures 14 in Bronx Housing Fire

A gas explosion ignited a four-alarm fire in a 17-story public housing complex in the Bronx early Saturday, killing one person and injuring 14 others as firefighters battled flames on the upper floors amid freezing temperatures.

The blaze erupted around 12:15 a.m. at the Boston Secor Houses on Bivona Street in the Baychester neighborhood, according to New York City Fire Department officials. Firefighters had responded to reports of a natural gas odor on the 15th and 16th floors when the explosion occurred about 15 minutes later, causing severe structural damage to multiple apartments and spreading fire to five units each on the 16th and 17th floors. The fire burned for several hours before crews brought it under control shortly before 5 a.m.

One unidentified civilian died at the scene, officials said. Among the injured were one person in critical condition, five with serious injuries and eight with minor ones, all transported to local hospitals including Jacobi Medical Center. One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was also hospitalized. Another resident declined medical treatment.

More than 230 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the...