Flames briefly engulfed sections of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge during Saturday’s Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display, with police saying pyrotechnics rigged to the span itself were “very likely” to blame, though no injuries were reported.
New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge caught fire during Saturday’s Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display, sending a plume of smoke billowing into the sky above the East River as pyrotechnics continued to burst around it. Footage shared online showed flames erupting from the span during the celebration, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks spectacular, one of the largest Independence Day events in the United States. A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told The New York Times the fire was “very likely” caused by the fireworks display itself, and confirmed no injuries had been reported.
Flames Break Out Mid-Display
Eyewitnesses reported that more than one pyrotechnics platform on the bridge appeared to ignite during the show, with flames and smoke visible from several points along the span before the fire burned itself out. Unlike previous years, when much of the display was launched from barges on the East River, part of this year’s show saw fireworks fired directly from pyrotechnic rigs mounted on the Brooklyn Bridge, making it more likely that equipment on the structure itself caught alight.
According to witnesses and reporters at the scene, the visible flames lasted only around a minute before dying down, allowing the fireworks display to continue. The fire was extinguished shortly afterwards.
Confusion Among Spectators
Spectators watching from the Brooklyn waterfront initially assumed the flames were a planned special effect, only realising the fire was accidental as the smoke continued to thicken and spread. Adding to the confusion, some witnesses said the blaze appeared to trigger additional fireworks to detonate while the fire was still burning.
Bridge Was Closed for the Display
The Brooklyn Bridge had been closed to traffic ahead of the fireworks show, as part of extensive security and safety measures put in place for the annual Independence Day celebrations. Officials had not immediately confirmed whether the bridge sustained any structural damage as a result of the fire, with an assessment of the affected areas expected to follow the event.
