Firefighters searching for trapped workers were caught in a sudden blast during a waterfront fire response Friday afternoon.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A massive explosion at a Staten Island shipyard Friday afternoon killed one civilian worker and injured 36 people, including more than 30 firefighters and EMS personnel, after crews entered a burning waterfront structure to search for trapped workers.
The explosion happened at a shipyard along Richmond Terrace in the Mariners Harbor section of Staten Island after FDNY crews responded to reports of workers trapped inside a metal structure near the docks. Officials said firefighters arrived around 3:30 p.m. and encountered an active fire inside a confined area. Roughly 50 minutes later, a powerful blast erupted while emergency personnel were conducting rescue operations. The incident quickly escalated into one of the city’s largest firefighter injury events in recent months, leaving two FDNY members hospitalized in serious condition and triggering a broad investigation into what caused the explosion.
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said firefighters immediately recognized the danger when they reached the scene at 3075 Richmond Terrace. Crews learned that workers were trapped inside a basement area near the dock while heavy smoke poured from the structure. Officials said a second alarm was transmitted at 4:08 p.m. as the fire intensified and more units were called in to support rescue operations. About 12 minutes later, the explosion tore through the site while firefighters were inside searching for victims. “While we were conducting these searches, a second explosion occurred and we had firefighters inside,” Esposito said during an evening briefing. Witnesses across the neighborhood reported hearing a loud boom that rattled nearby buildings and sent thick black smoke into the air above the harbor. Emergency crews from roughly 70 fire and EMS units responded, bringing more than 200 first responders to the waterfront site.
Officials said 31 firefighters, four EMS workers and one civilian survivor were injured in the blast and subsequent fire conditions. FDNY Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Prezant said some victims suffered from “blast energy,” a dangerous pressure effect that can injure organs even when there are no visible wounds. Fire Marshal Christopher Cuccaro sustained a temporal fracture and brain bleed during the rescue operation and remained in critical but stable condition Friday night. Another firefighter, identified as Vincent Delgado, was hospitalized in serious condition. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said the injuries could have been far worse given the confined space where the explosion occurred. “We got very lucky this day,” Bonsignore said. “It’s unfortunate that we have one fatality and they did everything they could to that person.” Officials confirmed that one trapped worker died at the scene while a second worker escaped with injuries.
The explosion occurred at a waterfront repair and industrial site used for shipyard operations and barge maintenance. Fire officials have not publicly identified what substance triggered the blast, though investigators from FDNY HazMat, the Department of Buildings and environmental agencies were sent to the location. Industrial shipyards often contain fuel tanks, welding equipment, compressed gases and chemical storage areas that can complicate firefighting operations. Firefighters said confined spaces near docks and below-deck structures can also intensify heat and pressure during explosions. Residents in the surrounding Mariners Harbor neighborhood gathered behind police tape Friday evening as emergency lights filled the industrial corridor along Richmond Terrace. Several nearby streets remained blocked for hours while investigators examined damaged sections of the property and crews continued extinguishing hot spots.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said city officials would conduct a comprehensive investigation into both the cause of the fire and the conditions that led to the explosion. Authorities have not announced whether the incident could result in workplace safety violations or criminal findings. Federal occupational safety investigators could also become involved because the incident occurred at an industrial worksite with reported confined-space operations. Officials said investigators would review maintenance records, witness statements and fire conditions leading up to the blast. Emergency crews brought the fire under control at approximately 7:20 p.m., more than three hours after the initial response. Hospitals across Staten Island treated injured firefighters and EMS personnel Friday evening while department leaders visited those in critical condition.
Outside Richmond University Medical Center, firefighters and family members waited for updates on injured colleagues late into the night. Several responders emerged from ambulances covered in soot and debris after spending hours at the waterfront scene. Residents nearby described hearing what sounded like an earthquake moments before sirens flooded the area. “The whole building shook,” one nearby worker told local reporters as smoke drifted across the shoreline. Mayor Mamdani praised firefighters and EMS crews for entering dangerous conditions to rescue trapped workers despite the growing fire risk. “That is the story of this fire,” the mayor said. “It is first responders from across the city rushing in to try to save the lives of those in danger.” Officials also said a rescue dog working alongside Cuccaro during the confined-space search was not injured in the blast.
The cause of the Staten Island shipyard explosion remained under investigation Friday night as injured firefighters continued receiving treatment. Officials said additional updates are expected after investigators complete structural assessments and interview workers who were on site during the fire.
Author note: Last updated May 23, 2026.