Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man dies in Staten Island waterfront explosion months after deadly blast
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 10, 2026
Modified Sep 10, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 10, 2026
Modified Sep 10, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A man died and two firefighters were injured in an explosion on a petroleum barge at a Staten Island waterfront yard Thursday afternoon, according to police and fire officials.
The fire drew more than 150 firefighters, EMS workers and hazmat personnel to the borough's North Shore, the FDNY said.
City emergency management officials were also responding.
The FDNY received a call shortly after 2:30 p.m. reporting that a 10-foot-by-40-foot container was on fire at 3249 Richmond Terrace, between South and Arlington avenues, after an explosion on a barge, according to the department.
Commanders transmitted a second alarm at 3:18 p.m., roughly 40 minutes into the response. The department assigned 53 units and 160 fire, EMS and hazmat personnel, officials said. Police said an unidentified man was killed at the scene.
Fire officials said two firefighters were injured. The FDNY did not immediately provide information about the severity of their injuries.
The fire was brought under control shortly before 5 p.m., according to the FDNY. The department said crews remaining at the scene were containing petroleum from the shipping container.
It is the second explosion on the Richmond Terrace waterfront in less than four months. A vessel blew up at a dry dock at 3075 Richmond Terrace on May 22, killing a civilian worker and injuring 36 other people, according to police and fire officials. The injured included 31 firefighters, four EMS workers and one civilian. A fire marshal and a firefighter were hospitalized in critical condition.
Two workers were painting that vessel when it exploded for unknown reasons, the NYPD said at the time. The FDNY said crews found a fire in the basement of a metal structure at the rear of the shipping docks, transmitted a second alarm and the major explosion followed 11 minutes later.
The FDNY has not said what caused Thursday's explosion. The department did not immediately say whether petroleum or any other hazardous material was released beyond the container or what the barge and container were carrying.
Officials with the city Department of Environmental Protection referred questions about the incident to the FDNY.
The cause of the May explosion was still under investigation when officials last addressed it publicly.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Tagged
public safety
staten island
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .