Gas explosion triggers massive fire in Manhattan’s Upper East Side apartment building

Residents reported hearing a loud blast moments before flames erupted.

A powerful explosion rocked Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Friday morning, igniting a massive fire in a seven-story apartment building and sending thick plumes of smoke across the city skyline.

The blast occurred shortly after 10 a.m. near East 95th Street between First and Second Avenues, prompting a rapid response from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and police.

Witnesses describe ‘loud explosion’

Residents reported hearing a loud blast moments before flames erupted.

🚨 #BREAKING: Explosion rocks NEW YORK CITY

Massive explosion has ROCKED the Upper East Side with over 100 firefighters and first responders on scene. Cause still unknown pic.twitter.com/bMOJDchtpj — The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) August 15, 2025

“I heard an explosion from my building just opposite the fire, and looked outside and saw all the smoke in the skies,” Joann Sowma told Daily Mail.

Black ops: NYC 🚨Multiple reports confirm that a large fire, which some witnesses described as a loud "explosion," broke out on the rooftop of a seven-story residential building at 305 E. 95th Street in Manhattan's Upper East Side around 10 am. Thick black smoke was seen… pic.twitter.com/WsegGDUmD8 — WayneTech SPFX®️ (@WayneTechSPFX) August 15, 2025

Videos posted online show firefighters battling fierce flames on the building’s rooftop while heavy black smoke billowed overhead.

Over 140 emergency responders on site

According to city officials, more than 140 FDNY and EMS personnel responded to the third-alarm fire. The incident has injured at least four people, the building’s superintendent, who was in the basement when the explosion occurred, and three firefighters. All are being treated for minor injuries.

FDNY members are currently operating at a 3-alarm fire at 305 East 95th Street in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/H05Ehdd7Ah

— FDNY (@FDNY) August 15, 2025

Kaz Daughtry, New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, urged residents to steer clear of the area.

“This is an active incident, avoid the area and follow official channels for updates,” he posted on Facebook, praising the “amazing job” by first responders.

Cause of the fire: Gas buildup in basement

Preliminary reports from ABC 7 indicate the blaze was sparked by a buildup of gas in the building’s basement. The force of the explosion was strong enough to be felt several blocks away.

Social media fills with eyewitness accounts

Local residents flooded social media with reports of the incident.

“On 90th and 3rd and the smell of burning is quite strong,” one user wrote on Reddit. Another noted, “Just got an alert about it — three alarm fire.”

Situation still developing

As crews continue working to fully extinguish the blaze and secure the building, authorities are investigating the exact sequence of events that led to the explosion. Streets around the site remain closed, with heavy traffic diversions in place.