- A rooftop fire broke out on East 43rd Street near Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan
- Smoke was visible from miles away and obscured the Empire State Building
- Firefighters and emergency crews quickly responded to the scene
A rooftop fire broke out on East 43rd Street in Manhattan, near Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday, sending thick plumes of smoke rising over Manhattan skyline as firefighters and emergency crews rushed to the scene. The location was just a block from the beginning of the St. Patrick's Day parade route.
The FDNY is operating at a fire on East 43rd Street in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/SlJ0UrbSY8
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 17, 2026
Videos circulating on social media showed smoke billowing from the high-rise building, with another clip showing the city's iconic Empire State Building obscured behind a thick haze of smoke. Witnesses reported the smoke was visible from miles away across the city.
The fire was under control in about 90 minutes and authorities said there is no impact to the parade.
The building is an office-to-residential conversion and was under renovation and the firefighters feared that there could be workers stuck in the fire, but all the workers were accounted for after the operation.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
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