Thick, dark smoke rolled across Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon after a basement fire sent workers and residents spilling out onto the sidewalks and into the streets. The plume, rising from just off a Hilton hotel, was visible for blocks and set off alarms in surrounding buildings as fire crews rushed in.
Officials: Fire Sparked In Restaurant Mechanical Room
Investigators say the blaze began in the mechanical room in the basement of a restaurant that sits adjacent to the Hilton, and that firefighters moved quickly to keep it from spreading, according to CBS New York. Fire marshals remained on scene as crews worked to piece together the chain of events and evaluate any structural or internal damage.
Video, Eyewitnesses Show Streets Shrouded In Smoke
Footage from PIX11 captured heavy, dark plumes pouring from the building and drifting across Midtown avenues. Bystanders posted their own clips showing office workers and passersby stepping outside, some shielding their faces, as the smoke settled in at street level and turned the afternoon into a hazy gray.
Past Midtown Basement Blazes And What To Expect
Basement and mechanical room fires have jammed up Midtown before, including a landmark basement blaze last year that also pushed smoke through nearby blocks. City officials said fire marshals would continue investigating Tuesday’s incident, and detailed figures on casualties and damage had not been released at the time of reporting.
FDNY and city officials had not yet provided a full accounting of injuries or property loss. Commuters and nearby businesses should expect lingering smoke and continued activity around the site while crews wrap up their work. This story will be updated as authorities release more information.
