A tanker truck hauling liquid oxygen erupted in flames late Tuesday morning on Manhattan’s East Side, sending thick white vapor into the air and prompting a full hazmat response near NYU Langone and Bellevue Hospital. Fire crews moved in quickly to contain the fire, and officials said there were no reported injuries during the initial response.
Firefighters and HazMat Units Swarm First Avenue
Firefighters arrived at 11:39 a.m. at 502 First Avenue, between East 29th and East 30th Streets, according to CBS News New York. The FDNY said more than 70 fire and EMS personnel, along with a HazMat unit, responded to the scene while crews checked nearby buildings for any possible contamination. Video from the block showed thick, white vapor engulfing the tanker and slowing traffic along First Avenue.
Why Liquid Oxygen Raises the Stakes
Liquid oxygen is a cryogenic oxidizer. It does not burn on its own, but it can sharply accelerate combustion in surrounding materials, increasing the risk of fast-moving flare-ups, according to the Department of Transportation’s PHMSA. PHMSA classifies refrigerated liquid oxygen as UN1073 and warns responders about oxygen-enrichment and pressure-container hazards during fires and leaks. Those factors help explain why hazmat specialists were called in for this incident.
Evacuations and East Side Disruptions
The nearby Medical Examiner’s Office and a men’s shelter were evacuated as a precaution, and First Avenue stayed open but heavily congested, CBS News New York reported. The tanker was parked within blocks of major hospital facilities. NYU Langone's main campus sits at 550 First Avenue, and city responders said they were checking buildings near the scene for any contamination.
