Residents were allowed to return to their homes after a major gas line rupture in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx on Sunday morning, according to the FDNY.
The gas line erupted around 9:40 a.m. near Bedford Park Boulevard and Webster Avenue, prompting a swift response from Con Edison, the NYPD and the Office of Emergency Management. Firefighters and police evacuated nearby buildings and blocked off several streets to ensure public safety, officials said. The NYPD also advised the public via social media to avoid the area while crews worked.
By 1 p.m., the FDNY reported that firefighters and Con Edison personnel had inspected the surrounding buildings and declared them safe for residents to return.
A total of five people were treated by EMS, three of whom were transported to local hospitals, according to fire officials.
Con Edison said the cause of the rupture remains under investigation, and personnel from the NYPD, FDNY and Con Edison were still on the scene Sunday afternoon.
A Con Edison spokesperson said about 38 customers were without gas service while crews remained at the scene making repairs towards returning service Sunday night and into Monday.
"Work had been going on at that location for a few weeks, prepping to replace the main line with a new, more efficient piping," Con Edison spokesperson Philip O’Brien said in an email. "It’s all part of infrastructure improvements to the area."
This story has been updated with comment from Con Edison.
