A cigarette flick that sparked a blockbuster car explosion in the Bronx, seriously hurting seven firefighters and destroying several vehicles, was captured on stunning surveillance video that the FDNY released Friday night as a warning about the disposal of cigarette butts.
“The CARELESS disposal of this cigarette caused a major explosion, injuring seven firefighters. Five of them were treated for serious burns to their arms and face,” the FDNY posted on X. “NEVER flick your cigarette butts! Properly extinguish cigarettes BEFORE throwing them away.”
The explosion took place shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday at Westchester Ave. and Fox St. in Longwood. Three vehicles, including a firetruck, were also damaged in the blast.
“That’s my work van right there. It blew up like something from a mafia movie,” said a man who works as a roofer, and whose white Ford van was destroyed in the eruption. “The fire spread like gasoline had been poured all over the place.”
A blue Toyota Camry was also destroyed.
“I got a call that my car was on fire,” said the vehicle’s owner, who did not want to be identified.
“It started in the trash and spread. I heard some firefighters were injured” she said. ”I’m distraught.”
The inferno was under control around 8:19 p.m., officials said.
The injured firefighters were rushed to Jacobi Hospital by EMS, the FDNY said.
“The burns are considered serious, but not life threatening,” FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said at a Thursday night press conference. “The members, our firefighters, are awake, alert and speaking, but they they have some serious burns. We’ll be obviously praying for them.”
