Midtown Manhattan fire: Hundreds of firefighters were on the scene after a large fire broke out in a high-rise building in New York’s Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday morning (local time), sending plumes of smoke into the sky just hours before the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The FDNY said no injuries were reported, but it was still an “all hands” operation, according to a CBS News report.
Inferno near the main parade route
The fire broke out near the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which usually forms along Vanderbilt Avenue and continues down Fifth Avenue from East 43rd Street to East 79th Street.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined
Preliminary reports indicate the fire may have involved a backup generator near which about 100 gallons of diesel fuel were stored.
Authorities said the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
There may be workers inside
The high-rise building is under reconstruction. However, fire officials reportedly said there may be some workers inside.
The building is being converted from office space to a residential complex with 441 rental units, including 111 designated as affordable housing, ABC7Ny.com reported
The structure is largely empty at this point, except for the 20,000-square-foot T-Squared venue, which operates on the ground floor.
Traffic delays and road closures are expected
After the inferno, the NYC advisory said commuters can expect major traffic delays, road closures and mass transit disruptions with emergency personnel in the area.
(This is a developing story. Keep checking back for more updates)
