Around 200 firefighters battled a stubborn fire that started inside a restaurant on the ground floor of a Tribeca building, then quickly shot up through the roof, leaving 11 firefighters injured in hours-long fire fight, officials say. Wale Aliyu reports.
What to Know
- A large fire broke out in a restaurant on the ground floor of a five-story building at Murray and Church streets in Tribeca Friday evening
- It's not yet clear what caused the fire, which raged through the building and erupted through the roof
- Several firefighters suffered minor injuries; there was no report of injuries to neighbors
Around 200 firefighters battled a stubborn fire that started inside a restaurant on the ground floor of a Tribeca building, then quickly shot up through the roof, leaving 11 firefighters injured in hours-long fire fight, officials say.
It's not yet clear what caused the fire that started inside the restaurant at 24 Murray St., near Church Street, at around 6:30 p.m. The fire rose to the top of the building, and flames could be seen shooting out the roof and windows.
Huge plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky, and the acrid smell of smoke carried as far as Brooklyn.
Firefighters battled the five-alarm blaze for four hours before it was finally knocked out. Eleven suffered minor injuries, mostly from fatigue and exhaustion, officials said. Some were seen being taken away on stretchers.
People in the building were able to get out quickly.
Fire officials said if they hadn't arrived in time, the fire could have been devastating because they believe there is ammunition in the basement, possibly from a target range.
The building has retail space on the first floor and apartments above. It's just a block away from City Hall and a few blocks from the World Trade Center.
