The incident prompted a heavy response from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), with multiple fire engines, ladder companies and emergency medical teams dispatched to the scene. Authorities worked to secure the area as smoke and debris were reported following the explosion. According to initial emergency dispatch reports, the fire broke out in a five-storey apartment building at 374 East 209th Street in the Bronx. A third alarm was declared after a lithium battery reportedly exploded on the third floor, sparking the blaze. Firefighters were conducting intensive searches for residents who may still have been inside the building while crews worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.
