7 FDNY firefighters injured, 5 with burns, after car fire explodes in the Bronx, authorities say

Seven firefighters were injured, including three who suffered serious burns, after an explosion in the Bronx on Wednesday evening, the FDNY said.

As of late Thursday afternoon, two remained hospitalized in stable condition and the others were released, the FDNY's press office said by email.

Firefighters were alerted about 7 p.m. by multiple callers to a fire at the intersection of Fox Street and Westchester Avenue. They found a fire on a pile of trash and several cars outside 955 Westchester Ave., FDNY Chief of Department John M. Esposito said.

Shortly after, an explosion occurred at the scene, injuring seven firefighters, including five with burns to the hands and face, Esposito said at a news conference. Three of the firefighters were admitted to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening burns, he said.

In a Facebook post on Thursday evening, the FDNY said the fire was "caused by the careless disposal of a cigarette.

"We remind New Yorkers to NEVER flick cigarette butts! Please properly extinguish cigarettes BEFORE throwing them away," the post said.

The fire then caught onto a parked vehicle, igniting its gas tank, which caused the explosion. 

Dr. Sheldon Teperman, of Jacobi Medical Center, who also spoke at the news conference, said he expected all the firefighters to recover.

He said firefighters described a "wall of fire" surrounding them. "They were concerned about their colleagues and their families."

"There is a reason why I refer to you as 'New York’s Bravest,' " Teperman said of the FDNY.

The identities of the injured firefighters were not disclosed.