A truck belonging to a plumbing business exploded on a quiet residential street in Queens, New York, early Friday morning, causing significant damage to nearby homes and vehicles.
The unoccupied Infiniti QX56, used as a work truck for a plumbing company, was parked on 133rd Street in South Ozone Park when it suddenly erupted in flames around 6:45 a.m., according to fire officials.
Video footage captured by witnesses shows the parked vehicle engulfed in bright orange flames as bystanders looked on.
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Many residents initially assumed the frequent popping sounds accompanying the blaze were fireworks.
#Queens *HAZMAT* Box 4692
131-16 133rd St
CAR EXPLODED. SHRAPNEL WENT INTO HOUSES #FDNY pic.twitter.com/zi6zYYoQjm— NYCFireWire (@NYCFireWire) November 8, 2024
However, FDNY Deputy Chief George Healy later confirmed that the explosions were triggered by pressurized gas cylinders stored in the truck.
The vehicle also contained lithium-ion batteries, which were safely handled by the FDNY’s hazmat unit.
“At approximately 6:47 this morning, Queens Fire Alarm Dispatch started receiving multiple calls reporting a car fire. On arrival, our first responding units found a car that was involved in fire that also had some significant damage. They quickly suppressed the fire, but then… pic.twitter.com/7c2aZbCAMe
— FDNY (@FDNY) November 8, 2024
Photos from the scene show the truck completely burned out in the middle of the street.
“At approximately 6:47 this morning, Queens Fire Alarm Dispatch started receiving multiple calls reporting a car fire. On arrival, our first responding units found a car that was involved in fire that also had some significant damage. They quickly suppressed the fire, but then… pic.twitter.com/7c2aZbCAMe
— FDNY (@FDNY) November 8, 2024
The blast shattered windows in at least six nearby homes, and five cars parked close to the vehicle sustained damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with the explosion.
The truck’s owner, Dinell Harricharan, was at his home on Long Island when the explosion happened.
Harricharan said he had parked the truck overnight at his younger brother’s residence on 133rd Street. “The car’s our lifeline,” Harricharan stated, describing the impact of losing his work vehicle.
“We have to start over, try to finance and get everything back together.”
Harricharan also reported that he had contacted his insurance company about covering the damages, only to be informed that the incident would not be covered.
The FDNY Fire Marshals, in collaboration with the NYPD, are investigating the incident to determine what may have led to the explosion.
As of Friday, the cause seems to be a failure of one of the pressurized cylinders inside the SUV, with officials continuing to assess the details surrounding the accident.
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You “have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity…” but the adverts on your website are vulgar and obscene. Why the two tier judgement?
All an EV, gas cylinders blew up because the battery fire, not the other way around.