Man with knife sparks Queens house explosion, injures officers, remains unaccounted for
QUEENS - A fire broke out early Thursday at a home in Queens following a reported domestic dispute, triggering a massive explosion that injured multiple people, including police officers, officials said.
What we know:
Both FDNY and NYPD responded to the home on 130th Street in South Ozone Park around 3 a.m. after a family member called 911 to report that a 50-year-old male relative, who was intoxicated and armed with a knife, was threatening people inside the residence.
Dig deeper:
Authorities said the man forced his way into the home through an air conditioning unit. Surveillance footage later showed him carrying two garbage bags filled with canisters containing unknown substances into a basement apartment where family members lived. A smell of gas was also reported at the scene.
When officers arrived, they spoke with a victim outside the home who provided a key to enter and apprehend the suspect. As officers went inside, a massive explosion erupted, violently throwing them off their feet, according to Chief of Department John Esposito.
The blast sparked a fire that quickly engulfed the multi-family home and spread to a neighboring structure. Fire officials said the blaze escalated to five alarms, drawing dozens of units and hundreds of fire and EMS personnel.
Ten people, including police officers, suffered minor injuries and were taken to area hospitals. One officer sustained a head laceration and is expected to be in stable condition.
All residents of the building — including a wife, daughter and two grandchildren — have been accounted for, officials said. However, the suspect has not been accounted for, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Police have identified him only as a 50-year-old man.
Authorities noted that due to the intensity of the fire and a partial collapse of the structure, crews were initially unable to conduct a full search. Officials said searches will resume once debris is cleared to ensure no one remains unaccounted for.
Investigators said there were three expired orders of protection against the suspect, all filed by a relative who lived in the home.
Sixteen people have been displaced by the fire.
"We got very lucky today," the police chief said.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
The Source: This report is based on information from the FDNY and NYPD.