New York City’s Upper East Side was plunged into chaos Friday morning when a violent gas explosion tore through a pre-war apartment building, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and forcing a massive emergency response.
Fire officials say around 170 firefighters and first responders swarmed 305 E 95th Street just after 10 a.m., battling an inferno that ripped from the basement to the rooftop.
“It was like a bomb went off,” said Joann Sowma, who lives directly across the street. “I heard the blast, ran to the window, and saw smoke swallowing the skyline.”
A Sudden Blast — and a Wall of Flames
According to ABC 7, the blaze was triggered by a buildup of gas in the basement. The explosion roared through the red-brick, six-story building—constructed in 1910—before racing upward and igniting rooftop furniture. Flames consumed top-floor apartments within minutes.
FDNY officials confirmed that no residents were inside the hardest-hit units. But the building’s superintendent was in the basement when the blast occurred and is being treated for minor injuries. Three firefighters also sustained injuries while containing the blaze.
Firefighter David Martinez, 38, a former Marine, was among the first inside.
“We were going room to room, pushing the hose as far as it could go,” he told reporters. “It was so hot… we were in there for quite some time before we got it under control. Luckily, no one was home in those units.”
A Rare Three-Alarm Inferno
The fire was classified as a three-alarm event—one of the FDNY’s highest designations—requiring significant manpower, ladder trucks, and aerial support. Helicopter footage showed crews spraying torrents of water onto the scorched roof deck while smoke drifted over much of the neighborhood.
By midday, firefighters had the flames under control, but the building’s top floors were left gutted. Fire marshals remained on the scene investigating the cause, with early signs pointing to a gas leak that built up before igniting.
A Neighborhood in Shock
Longtime residents of the Upper East Side, a neighborhood known for its tree-lined streets, brownstones, and high-rise luxury apartments, described the incident as “surreal.”
“You don’t expect something like this here,” said resident Alan Pryor. “One minute you’re walking your dog, the next you’re coughing on smoke and hearing sirens from every direction.”
New York City has experienced several gas-related explosions in recent years. A 2014 blast in East Harlem killed eight and injured dozens, while another in 2016 leveled a building in the East Village. Friday’s incident, while not fatal, is a stark reminder of how quickly an aging building’s infrastructure can turn deadly.
As of late Friday afternoon, city officials urged residents in older buildings to report the smell of gas immediately to Con Edison or 911.
“This could have been much worse,” FDNY Chief Paul L. Humphrey told reporters. “The quick action of our firefighters prevented a tragedy.”
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I\’m sure the Dems will take this as a sign to CUT Fire Departments staffing! Makes sense to them, like cutting Police while inviting as many illegal criminals to their slum bound city????
NO SMELL? If the gas was in the basement, and the “super” did not smell it, was that guy hit by COVID ?
Gas stinks. A lot, and makes one dizzy fast. Super not good. Needs a younger person with faculties intact.