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Fugitive In Blast That Killed Fdny Chief Found At Lover's Cliffside Home

CLIFFSIDE PARK, N.J. -- A man who authorities said had a pot-growing operation in a two-story Bronx home that exploded Tuesday morning -- killing an FDNY battalion chief and wounding others -- was being held without bail in the Bergen County Jail after his arrest at his girlfriend's Cliffside Park apartment on Tuesday.

Julio Salcedo Contrer

Julio Salcedo Contrer

Photo Credit: MUGSHOT: Courtesy BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF
The aftermath.

The aftermath.

Photo Credit: COURTESY: ABC7 Eyewitness News
Michael J. Fahy

Michael J. Fahy

Photo Credit: COURTESY: NYC Mayor's Office

Julio Salcedo Contrer, 34, was taken into custody by a Regional Fugitive Task Force made up of NYPD detectives and US Marshals on Walker Street.

"He had a girl here. They got him quick," a law enforcement officer with knowledge of the arrest told Daily Voice. "No incident."

He was charged with being a fugitive from justice. An extradition hearing was being scheduled.

Salcedo has an extensive criminal history that includes arrests for unlawful imprisonment, assault and drug offenses, records show.

Early Tuesday, New York City firefighters went to the two-family home on W. 234th Street to investigate a gas leak.

They summoned police after discovering the drug operation, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said.

The house exploded around 7:30 a.m..

Michael J. Fahy, a North Rockland native and 17-year member of the city fire department, was killed by a piece of roof that blasted through the air in the explosion, authorities said.

Others injured included six police officers, nearby residents and utility workers, they said.

Part of a statement issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio:

"Chief Fahy responded at 6:22 a.m. [Tuesday] morning along with several fire units to calls reporting a gas odor at the intersection of West 234th Street and Irwin Avenue. Chief Fahy, serving as Incident Commander, ordered fire units to search for the source of the gas odor, and to evacuate possible endangered occupants of homes in the vicinity of the odor.

"Units determined the gas was emanating from 304 West 234th Street and, at about 7:30 a.m., an explosion occurred on the top floor of the house.

"Chief Fahy was struck and fatally injured by falling debris. He was transported to New York-Presbyterian-the Allen Hospital where he died from his injuries."

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