NEW YORK — Flames broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge Thursday night as New York City’s Fourth of July fireworks show lit up the sky overhead, sending a thick column of smoke rising from the iconic span before firefighters brought the blaze under control. There were no reported injuries.
According to the city’s fire department, two fire engines were deployed to battle the fire. Crews were spotted actively fighting the flames on the bridge just before 10 p.m. The bridge had already been shut down to vehicle traffic in preparation for the fireworks event.
A fire department spokesperson noted that this type of incident is not out of the ordinary, explaining that it’s precisely the reason authorities keep spectators at a safe distance during fireworks displays.
The fireworks show had been pushed to an earlier start time due to the looming threat of severe weather. Dangerous storm conditions disrupted numerous celebrations up and down the East Coast, including in Washington, where a storm forced crowds to evacuate from the National Mall.
