Blaze Sparks Manhattan Explosion, 42 Injured
Forty-two people, mostly firefighters, were injured in a New York basement fire in a commercial building, officials said.
Four firefighters were admitted to a hospital burn unit in stable condition. Most of those injured had cuts, bruises and small burns.
The fire erupted in part of the 50-story building’s air-conditioning system while workers were replacing a storage tank, said fire department spokesman Pat Cleary.
The blaze triggered an explosion that knocked firefighters and construction workers off their feet.
The blaze was contained within 90 minutes, Cleary said.
The building suffered minor damage and was not structurally impaired.
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