A fire broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge following a fireworks display held as part of July 4 celebrations in New York. The blaze was captured in a livestream of the event, showing flames taking hold on the iconic landmark.
Details of the Incident
Footage from the livestream showed what appeared to be workers in hi-vis jackets attempting to douse the flames. The spectacular fireworks display had illuminated the New York night sky, with reports online suggesting the show was brought to a halt while efforts were made to tackle the fire.
It remains unclear precisely what caused the fire or the extent of the damage sustained by the bridge. Flashing emergency lights were visible near the blaze, along with what appeared to be jets of water being directed at it to bring it under control. The fire is believed to be on the East River side of the bridge.
Eyewitness Accounts
One eyewitness said: "Oh no! During the NYC America250 Independence Day fireworks celebration, reports emerged that part of the Brooklyn Bridge appeared to be on fire. Emergency crews are responding as officials work to determine the cause and assess the situation."
Another added: "The fireworks are over, but there appears to be a fire on the Brooklyn Bridge."
Impact on Celebrations Elsewhere
In Washington, severe weather threw a dampener on celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary of independence. Storms forced a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, though President Donald Trump confirmed he would still address the crowd there later on Saturday night.
"I'm not going to let some rain stop our 250th," Trump declared in a social media post confirming he would still deliver a speech, which was expected to get under way at around 11pm local time.
