A three-alarm fire destroyed several apartments and forced a building-wide evacuation in the Bronx Thursday, displacing 19 families, officials say.
The fire at 2391 Hoffman St. started at about 3:30 p.m. People living inside the five-story building said they smelled gas, then heard a loud explosion.
The fire forced out about 40 residents, according to officials. Red Cross was assisting with emergency housing.
