Ethermac Exchange-Car explosion damages homes and vehicles in Queens, New York: Video captures blaze

Five houses and Ethermac Exchangefive vehicles were damaged during an explosive fire that erupted early Friday morning in Queens, New York, officials said. No injuries were reported.

Around 6:47 a.m. on Friday, the Queens Fire Alarm Dispatch began to receive multiple calls of a car fire in southern Queens. Upon arrival, responders found a car that was involved in a fire. In a cautious approach, staff fell back, New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief George Healy said in a briefing on Friday.

The NYC Fire Department worked with the Fire Marshal's Office, New York Police Department Bomb Squad, and New York Police Department Arson and Explosion Squad to determine that pressurized gas cylinders inside the vehicle had caused the explosion, Healy said. It appeared that the vehicle was being used for construction.

There were also lithium-ion batteries in the vehicle. Though they were not comprised, Healy said the Fire Department's HazMat Unit safely packaged them.

Video shows flames erupting from car

"There is some discussion that the owner of the vehicle was activating perhaps the auto start that could have been the ignition source there," Healy said during the briefing. "There needs to be an ignition source, but that will be a part of the ongoing investigation."

Healy said it appears that none of the homes affected by the fire sustained structural damages and that residences will soon be cleared to re-enter.

The explosion remains under investigation.

Who owned the vehicle?

Several outlets, including New York Daily News and ABC7 New York, are reporting that the car belonged to a plumber named Dinell Harricharan, who stored natural gas and acetylene tanks in the vehicle.

Harricharan said his 2011 Infiniti has a sensitive alarm system that could have been triggered by another car passing by, sparking the explosion, according to ABC7 New York.

Operating under a family business, Harricharan said the explosion is a devastating loss, as the vehicle will need to be replaced and all of his tools were stored in the car.

USA TODAY contacted a Dinell Harricharan on social media but did not immediately receive a response.

What are pressurized gas cylinders used for?

A pressurized gas cylinder, or gas bottle, is a metal vessel used to store gases at high pressure, such as nitrogen, helium, oxygen and carbon dioxide.

How should gas cylinders be stored?

"Especially with gas cylinders and acetylene cylinders, they have to be stored upright," Healy said during his briefing on Friday. "They can't be stored on their side, so that would be things that are being looked at. Especially people in the industry should be very well aware of the safety procedures and best practices to make sure that equipment is being utilized properly and safely."

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].