Investigators Look For New Possible Causes In Brooklyn Building Explosion
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Now that it's known that the natural gas supply was shut off on the floor where investigators believe Saturday's building explosion in Brooklyn originated, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said fire marshals are checking for accelerants.
"There may have been another cause, which we're looking at," Nigro told reporters, including WCBS 880's Rich Lamb. "(Is it possible it could have been a liquid, some form of liquid?) Yes. So this is what the fire marshals are looking at now."
Nigro said officials have no way of confirming that the explosion might have been intentionally set, but police sources said a woman believed to have been killed in the blast had posted messages on social media expressing thoughts of suicide.
The explosion killed two people and left at least 12 other people injured. The body of third-floor resident Ligia Puello, 64, was found in the stairwell minutes after the blast.
On Monday, the remains of a second person were pulled from the rubble. That victim, 47-year-old Franchezka Figueroa, lived in the second-floor unit, CBS2's Dave Carlin reported.
Investigators had been looking into whether a stove was being disconnected in the second-floor apartment at 13th Avenue and 42nd Street in Borough Park.
But National Grid records indicate the second-floor apartment had been without gas service since June, CBS2 reported.
"There is not yet a conclusive cause," said City Council Member Brad Lander.
The utility received a call about an odor at the three-story building on June 29 and shut off gas there after finding a leak, records show. After a licensed plumber repaired the flue, service to the building was restored, but not to Figueroa's apartment because she hadn't paid her bills, sources said. The fire marshal said the lock on the apartment's gas line was still intact after the blast.
Investigators have examined the main gas meter in the basement, and there is no evidence of a leak or tampering, sources told CBS2.
Meanwhile, one of the victims injured in the blast is speaking out about the tragedy that changed his life.
"Everybody should thank every moment they got because nobody knows what the next moment will bring and thank God I'm alive," Moshe Moscowitz told CBS2 over the phone.
Moscowitz was walking right outside of the building when it exploded in flames and spewed debris across the street. He sustained injuries to the side of his head and body.
Two of the five buildings on the block are in the process of being torn down, Carlin reported. The remaining three must be shored-up. Officials hope that will take weeks, not months.
Dozens of displaced residents, store owners and workers were allowed to return and briefly clean and retrieve belongings on Wednesday.
"My workers are staying home and waiting for me to tell them to come to work," said spa owner Pnina Cohen.
Moscowitz said he will return to his supermarket job after he's healed.
His manager, Shamshi Segedin, and Segedin's 10-year-old son were also injured in the explosion. The boy is home now, but Segedin remains in the hospital.
"To all the families out there, my prayers go out to them, and to my manager Mr. Segedin, a speedy recovery," Moscowitz said.
And a speedy recovery for the entire neighborhood.
