1 Dead, 36 Injured in Massive Fire and Explosion at Staten Island Shipyard

One civilian worker was killed and 36 others injured, the majority of them firefighters, after a fire sparked a powerful explosion Friday afternoon at a shipyard in Mariners Harbor, officials said.

The incident occurred at the May Ship Repair Contracting Corporation facility at 3075 Richmond Terrace. Firefighters responded around 3:30 p.m. to reports of a basement fire in a large metal structure at the dry dock, with two workers initially reported trapped. Approximately 45–50 minutes later, a major explosion rocked the scene as crews were actively fighting the blaze and attempting a rescue. A second blast was also reported in some accounts.

The deceased was a civilian subcontractor working inside a vessel’s hull. One other civilian and 34 FDNY members were among the injured. Several firefighters suffered serious or critical injuries, including a fire marshal who was intubated after sustaining a fractured temple and brain bleed. All injured were transported to area hospitals.

More than 200 firefighters from roughly 70 units battled the flames amid heavy smoke and challenging conditions. The fire was brought under control by around 7:20 p.m., officials said.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the incident at an evening press conference, praising first responders while mourning the loss.“We mourn the life that was lost today,” he said. “We got very lucky in the sense that none of our people were killed.”

FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore described the response as a “complex, fast-developing emergency situation,” noting limited visibility due to heavy smoke upon arrival.

The cause of the fire and subsequent explosion remains under investigation. No further updates on missing persons were reported, and all FDNY personnel were accounted for.

The scene remained active Saturday with investigators on site. Officials have not released the identity of the deceased pending family notification.