By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- A fire erupted on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York during the city’s July Fourth fireworks display, generating flames and smoke before FDNY crews extinguished the blaze using two fire engines.
- The Brooklyn Bridge was closed to traffic during the fireworks show when the fire occurred, and no injuries were reported.
- An FDNY spokesperson stated that such fires during fireworks are not unexpected and that crowd control measures remain in place to distance spectators from potential ignition sources.
- The July Fourth fireworks show was moved earlier than originally scheduled due to forecasts of severe weather that canceled and delayed celebrations along the East Coast, including in Washington, where crowds were evacuated from the National Mall.
- Firefighters doused the flames shortly before 10 p.m. as the celebration continued.
NEW YORK — Fire broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge during New York City’s Independence Day fireworks celebration, generating flames and smoke that FDNY personnel extinguished using two fire engines.
The fire occurred on the bridge, which had been closed to vehicular traffic during the fireworks display. Firefighters were observed suppressing the blaze shortly before 10 p.m. as the show proceeded.
An FDNY spokesperson stated that fires during fireworks exhibitions are not unexpected occurrences. The department noted that such incidents inform standard procedures requiring crowds to be maintained at a distance from fireworks operations to mitigate ignition risks.
No injuries were reported.
The July Fourth fireworks display was scheduled earlier than originally planned due to severe weather forecasts affecting celebrations throughout the East Coast. In Washington, weather threats prompted evacuation of crowds assembled on the National Mall.