STATEN ISLAND, New York (WABC) — One person has died, and nearly three dozen first responders were injured following an explosion and fire at a shipyard on Staten Island, according to FDNY officials.
It happened at 3075 Richmond Terrace between Lockman Avenue and Andros Avenue on Friday.
The FDNY says they received a report of workers trapped around 3:30 p.m., and a fire in the back of the shipyard, followed by a major explosion around 4:20 p.m. As soon as they arrived on scene, the situation was immediately dire and firefighters scrambled to get to the workers trapped in the basement of a metal structure near the docks as it was on fire.
“While we were conducting these searches, a second explosion occurred and we had firefighters inside,” said FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito.
The second blast shook the neighborhood – and the FDNY. The patient count climbed quickly, and among the 34 FDNY members who were injured, a fire marshal and firefighter were hurt the worst.
“They’re suffering from something that is silent, which is a blast energy. In a confined space, that energy hits you and can penetrate organs,” said FDNY Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Prezant.
The Fire Marshal suffered a temporal fracture and brain bleed, but he survived the tight quarters of a daring rescue.
“We got very lucky this day. We got lucky in the sense that none of our people were killed. It’s unfortunate that we have one fatality and they did everything they could to that person,” said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
One of the workers did not make it out alive. A second worker did make it out, but was injured.
There was tragedy, but there was also bravery.
“That is the story of this fire as well. It is first responders from across the city rushing in to try to save the lives of those in danger. And in doing so exposed themselves as well to that danger,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The Fire Marshal, identified by the FDNY as Christopher Cuccaro was on scene as part of a special search and rescue team to deal with tight spaces. He had a search dog with him who was uninjured. Cuccaro is currently intubated in critical condition. The doctor says he is being watched very closely and if there is no brain swelling, he should make a recovery.
Firefighter Vincent Delgado remains in serious condition.
The cause of the fire, Mayor Mamdani says, is under a comprehensive investigation.
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