What to Know Firefighters were called to the home about an hour before the explosion after someone reported the smell of gas

They found a drug lab and called NYPD, but the house exploded shortly thereafter, police say

Some neighbors said the blast sounded like a bomb had gone off; others said it felt like an earthquake

UPDATE: Long Goodbye Begins for FDNY Fire Chief Killed in Line of Duty

An FDNY battalion chief was killed by falling debris when a suspected drug den exploded in the Bronx Tuesday, leveling a two-story home and injuring at least 12 other people.

Battalion Chief Michael Fahy was a 17-year FDNY veteran who served through 9/11 and a father of three. A convoy of uniformed and non-uniformed firefighters stood outside the hospital to pay their respects as his body was taken to a funeral home.

It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the line of duty death of FDNY Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy https://t.co/XDK0NLYp1k pic.twitter.com/KpXI0ulzZO — FDNY (@FDNY) September 27, 2016

"He was on the rise. He was a star," a visibly emotional FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters, adding that he knew Fahy's father - a former fire chief himself - personally.

"It's a sad day. Thankfully, this doesn't happen every day, but when it does, it doesn't make it any easier. We lost a hero today," Nigro said.

A person of interest in the case, a renter of the exploded home, was picked up by law enforcement in Cliffside Park, New Jersey Tuesday afternoon.

An FDNY battalion chief was killed by falling debris when a suspected drug den exploded in the Bronx Tuesday, leveling a two-story home and injuring at least 12 other people.

Multiple police, civilians and Con Ed workers were injured following the 7:30 a.m. blast at the private home on West 234th Street near Tibbett Avenue in Kingsbridge. About an hour before the explosion, firefighters had responded to a report of a gas smell at the location and found the drug lab, police say.



A law enforcement source tells NBC 4 New York officials believe the home was a marijuana growing operation. Flammable materials like propane are used to manufacture the drug, but the alleged pot growhouse would be the first such drug lab to blow up in the city, the law enforcement source said.

A photo posted by Advocate of Wordz (@advocateofwordz) on Sep 27, 2016 at 4:51am PDT

The NYPD had an ongoing investigation on that block over the last two weeks, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.

Sad & tragic day in #NYC. There is nothing more noble, more heroic than sacrifice for your city, your public. RIP @FDNY Chief Michael Fahy — Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) September 27, 2016

After the FDNY found the suspected lab, it called the NYPD in to investigate but the house exploded before officers could assess the location, according to police. Correspondence on emergency radio revealed immediate concern.



"We got men down ... with an explosion," a firefighter told a dispatcher, requesting multiple ambulances on a rush. "We got a man down ... firefighter down ... bad shape."



Streets were shut down in the area as utility crews, firefighters and police cordoned off the site. Video from the scene shows the home completely demolished, the roof in shambles, partially collapsed over one of the building's sides. Piles of debris rained onto the street, covering the road and nearby parked cars.

The Department of Buildings was inspecting buildings in the area for structural stability. Full-vacate orders have been issued to buildings no. 300 and 304 on West 234th Street, and a partial-vacate order was issued for the side yard at 3251 Tibbett Ave., a spokesman said.

House explosion in the Bronx 1 PD MOS to the hospital pic.twitter.com/SXEGaSfpvf — SBA (@SBANYPD) September 27, 2016

One Instagram user said the blast "shook my whole neighborhood," adding it "felt like a bomb went off." Another neighbor said her windows shook. Still another said she felt as if there had been an earthquake.

A neighbor, Mariya Pugacheva, shot this video from her 16th floor apartment window moments after a house exploded in the Bronx. She said “the whole building shook, as if during a really strong thunderstorm but 10X worse.” Officials say a suspected drug lab exploded, and an FDNY battalion chief was killed by falling debris.

A photo taken from the 238th Street subway platform showed a plume of smoke rising into the air.

Explosion near 234th and Irwin Ave Bronx NYC. @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/qjqOqkDwN3 — Dylan Ryder (@DylanMRyder) September 27, 2016

He lived in Yonkers with his wife and 6- and 11-year-old sons and 8-year-old daughter. Fahy joined the FDNY in 1999 and rose to the rank of battalion cheif in 2012.

Members of Fahy's FDNY firehouse -- Battalion 19, Engine Company 75, Ladder Company 33 -- will drape purple and black bunting in his honor Wednesday morning. A memorial was growing outside the firehouse by late Tuesday.

Mayor de Blasio ordered all flags on city buildings to be flown at half-staff each day from sunrise to sunset until Fahy is buried.

"Our hearts go out to the Fahy family -- a family so devoted to this city," de Blasio said in a statement. "Michael's father -- a fire chief before him. A family that has given so much and today made the ultimate sacrifice to this city."

The FDNY Foundation started a fund for Fahy's family.