The Brooklyn Bridge briefly caught fire during a Fourth of July fireworks display on Saturday night.
Video footage showed several fires burning on the bridge soon after the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show began in New York City, just after 9 p.m. The Police Department said no injuries were reported.
A New York Times photographer in Manhattan saw billowing flames coming from at least four spots on the bridge’s walkway, in places where fireworks were being set off. As the fireworks show concluded, a water truck was putting out the fires.
After the fireworks show ended, flashing red flights from emergency vehicles could be seen in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge.
A call about a fire on the bridge came in at 9:32 p.m., the Police Department said. No injuries had been reported. Police officials said that the burning was “very likely” ignited by Fourth of July fireworks.
By shortly after 10 p.m., the fire appeared to have been extinguished, officials said.
The bridge remained closed to traffic shortly before 10:30 p.m., with emergency vehicles blocking all lanes. An officer guarding the entrance to the bridge said it was closed to foot traffic, too.
Sharanika Akter, 33, came from Queens to watch the fireworks show over the Brooklyn Bridge with her husband.
“Nobody panicked” in the large crowd on Old Fulton Street, she said. But many who had been recording the show kept their videos rolling as smoke rose from the bridge.
“Honestly, we were all pretty relaxed,” Akter said. “I thought it was pretty small, from my view from the ground.”
Dakota Santiago contributed reporting.
