What Caused The Explosion That Injured 8 Adults And 2 Children In Wappingers Falls?

Wagswoofs – On Thursday afternoon, a building collapse and fire on Brick Row in the village caused a devastating explosion, resulting in injuries to eight adults and two children.

When the sunken structure at 2 Brick Row caught fire, a total of fifteen fire departments and nine police departments sprang into action. Building and trench collapse technical rescue teams were also called in to help. Billowing smoke and flames made for a chaotic and dangerous scene.

After the incident, rescuers worked tirelessly to pull out the injured individuals from the debris. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported, although a child and two adults had to be airlifted to Westchester Medical Center. The severity of their injuries was not disclosed during the press briefing held on Thursday evening.

According to Wappingers Falls Fire Chief Jason Enson, several individuals were left trapped in the debris during a live fire. One of them was stuck from the waist down, while the other was trapped from the chest down.

At the scene, four police officers and one firefighter sustained minor injuries.

William Beale, the Director of Emergency Management in Dutchess County, reminds everyone that the investigation is still ongoing. As of the moment, they are limited in providing facts and information regarding the situation.

Roads closed near building collapse on Brick Row

Law enforcement officials received a 911 call at 12:15 p.m. and immediately dispatched first responders to the location.

The explosion sent shockwaves throughout the village, causing homes to shake and residents to become alarmed. The incident quickly spread on social media, leaving many confused until it was eventually revealed what had happened in the vicinity.

Emergency crews responded to the scene promptly and worked tirelessly to rescue the injured, resulting in the shutdown of traffic in the surrounding area for several hours.

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announced on Thursday that she would be dispatching state resources to provide assistance at the scene.

Emergency responders are working diligently in the area of Main Street, Mesier Park, Mill Street and High Street, as per the request of Dutchess County Emergency Management. Therefore, it is advised that people avoid these areas until further notice.

As of 5 p.m., the previously closed East and West Main streets between South and Delavergne avenues have reopened after being shut down for most of the afternoon.

What caused Wappingers explosion

According to Joseph Jenkins, spokesperson for Central Hudson, preliminary reports suggest that a contractor working for the company accidentally hit a 3/4-inch gas line, resulting in the explosion and subsequent fire. Although an investigation is still ongoing, this appears to be the cause of the incident.

Representatives from Central Hudson arrived on site and temporarily suspended all electric and gas service in the affected area to gather more information, according to Jenkins. They expect to have service restored for most customers by Thursday night.

Jenkins stated that Central Hudson will ensure that individuals who do not have accommodations will be provided with hotel rooms through coordination with officials.

An explosion in Wappingers Falls resulted in the injury of eight adults and two children. The cause of the explosion is still unknown.