A suspected natural gas explosion triggered a devastating four-alarm fire overnight in a Bronx high-rise, leaving at least one person dead and more than a dozen others injured in one of the borough’s most intense residential fires in recent years. The explosion occurred at approximately 12:45 a.m. on January 24, 2026, inside a 17-story NYCHA apartment building located at 3485 Bivona Street, rapidly igniting flames on the upper floors and plunging residents into chaos.

Fire officials said the blast ignited apartments on the 16th and 17th floors, sending thick black smoke pouring from multiple windows and forcing the emergency evacuation of more than 150 households in freezing, subzero conditions. One resident was pronounced dead at the scene, while 14 others were transported to nearby hospitals, including one individual listed in critical condition.

Dramatic footage from the scene showed residents trapped on upper floors waving bedsheets from windows and signaling desperately for help as flames erupted behind them. Other videos captured fireballs dropping from the building as first responders rushed inside amid rapidly deteriorating conditions. Radio transmissions from the scene revealed urgent calls for backup as the fire escalated, underscoring the speed and severity of the blaze.

The FDNY deployed more than 230 firefighters and emergency personnel from 75 units, battling intense heat, smoke, and structural hazards for hours. Officials confirmed that reports of gas odors had been made approximately 15 minutes before the explosion, a key detail now central to the ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire.

As displaced families seek shelter and answers, the incident stands as a stark reminder of how quickly disaster can strike in densely populated urban housing, and of the extraordinary risks first responders face when racing against time to save lives.