Fire in Times Square forces mass evacuation, all hands on deck response
The FDNY is in all-hands-on-deck mode after a fire and smoke prompted over 100 people to evacuate 1540 Broadway in Times Square, including the 45-story Viacom building. No injuries have been reported so far.
FDNYalerts MAN ALL HANDS 1540 BROADWAY, HIGH RISE FIRE IN PARKING GARAGE STORAGE AREA,
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) November 27, 2017
The fire began around 4:30pm in a storage room of the Midtown Manhattan skyscraper's parking garage, the FDNY said, WCBS reported.
We just evacuated the 1540 Broadway #Viacom building. Smell of gas and saw a little smoke. #timesquare. pic.twitter.com/g38tW0Midl
— Tatiana Holifield (@TatianaInMedia) November 27, 2017
The chaotic scene caused traffic to be closed on 45th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.
Trouble in Times Square! 45th Street is CLOSED between 7th and 8th Avenues for this fire. https://t.co/ZBJjbuhtae
— WCBS 880 Traffic (@wcbs880traffic) November 27, 2017
Crazy stuff going down in #TimesSquare. Literally a dozen or more fire trucks. #NYCpic.twitter.com/7urkX8rjlU
— Zach Knickerbocker (@zachknicker) November 27, 2017
The FDNY tweeted out an alert shortly after 5:30pm that the fire was under control.
