The fire started in the kitchen of the home on Findlay Avenue just before 9 p.m.
Video from Citizen App showed flames shooting from the apartment building.
Fire officials say a two-alarm fire broke out on the third floor of three-story apartment building on Findlay Avenue just before 9 p.m.
The boy suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation and was rushed to Bronx Lebanon Hospital in critical condition.
Eight children and an adult were in the apartment at the time of the fire. None of the others was hurt.
A firefighter was treated at the scene.
FDNY Fire Marshals deemed the fire accidental, caused by an electrical issue with the refrigerator.
The fire started in the kitchen of the home on Findlay Avenue just before 9 p.m.
Video from Citizen App showed flames shooting from the apartment building.
Fire officials say a two-alarm fire broke out on the third floor of three-story apartment building on Findlay Avenue just before 9 p.m.
The boy suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation and was rushed to Bronx Lebanon Hospital in critical condition.
Eight children and an adult were in the apartment at the time of the fire. None of the others was hurt.
A firefighter was treated at the scene.
FDNY Fire Marshals deemed the fire accidental, caused by an electrical issue with the refrigerator.
Crews assessed neighboring structures for possible carbon monoxide seepage as a result of the fire.
Due to elevated levels found, 30 people from buildings at 31-01, 31-11 and 31-17 were evacuated, FDNY officials said.
A handful of buildings also lost power, but no injuries were reported.
Firefighters say thick black smoke just kept pouring out of the manhole that exploded which sent the carbon monoxide into the buildings.
Officials said the blast was caused by a volatile cocktail of road salt mixed with an aging, underground system. You got old wires, old infrastructure, whenever it snows, you got the salt mix with water, it eats away at insulation of wire, it arcs, causes a problem, it exploded, said FDNY Chief Brian Deery.
Crews assessed neighboring structures for possible carbon monoxide seepage as a result of the fire.
Due to elevated levels found, 30 people from buildings at 31-01, 31-11 and 31-17 were evacuated, FDNY officials said.
A handful of buildings also lost power, but no injuries were reported.
Firefighters say thick black smoke just kept pouring out of the manhole that exploded which sent the carbon monoxide into the buildings.
Officials said the blast was caused by a volatile cocktail of road salt mixed with an aging, underground system. You got old wires, old infrastructure, whenever it snows, you got the salt mix with water, it eats away at insulation of wire, it arcs, causes a problem, it exploded, said FDNY Chief Brian Deery.