On a chilly December morning, a fire broke out at a Bryant Park holiday market food stall in Manhattan, drawing substantial attention amidst the city’s bustling holiday season.
According to the New York Post, A cooking oil accident on December 27 led to severe damage at a food stall, impacting numerous businesses but causing no injuries.
The incident occurred at around 9:20 a.m. at a stall inside Bryant Park located on West 40th Street. The fire swiftly engulfed a stall known as Seapark, which hosted four different small food-related businesses.
FDNY units quickly responded and brought the fire under control by approximately 10 a.m. FDNY Chief of Battalion 9, Joe Castellano, described the intense situation firefighters encountered while containing the blaze upon their arrival.
"We discovered a fire in the kiosk behind me, approximately 6 feet by about 40 feet long," Castellano explained, detailing the fire's extent. "The fire had spread throughout the structure."
Investigators determined that cooking oil coming into contact with combustibles accidentally caused the fire. This discovery has prompted officials to review safety measures at the bustling holiday market.
Although the fire was confined primarily to the Seapark stall, the smoke and heat nevertheless affected nearby areas within the market. In total, eighteen shops suffered damage as a result of the fire, with some experiencing only slight impairment.
Photographs circulating on social media show the affected stall post-fire, presenting a stark image of the aftermath. The structure appeared considerably damaged, highlighting the intensity of the flames.
Adjacent structures, including other kiosks and the ice skating rink's roofing, also experienced some heat impact. Castellano commented on this, saying, "There was slight damage to the adjacent kiosk, and there was some heat impingement on the roof of the ice skating rink behind the kiosk on fire. No real fire spread, just some flame impingement, and you see a little browning of the white roof structure."
A spokesperson for Bryant Park reassured the public that the park's main attractions were minimally affected. "The Rink and The Lodge are currently open. Most of The Holiday Shops have reopened, and we expect all the Holiday Shops that were not affected by the fire to reopen later today," the spokesperson stated, expressing gratitude towards the FDNY for their rapid response.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another fire two weeks prior in Herald Square, which destroyed eighteen shops. Despite the proximity of these events, FDNY's Chief Castellano does not believe them to be connected. "I don’t think they were a concern at all," he remarked about the fires' similarities. "I just think we had two fires."
The community around Bryant Park has shown resilience, with a quick rebound in the affected areas' operations. Business owners and local shoppers remain hopeful for the holiday season despite the setbacks from the fire.
The consecutive fires in popular shopping destinations this holiday season have brought safety concerns to the forefront of public discussion. Both incidents have highlighted the need for stringent safety checks, especially in temporary setups like holiday markets where electrical and fire risks are considerably high.
As Bryant Park continues to recover and resume normal operations, the market's management and city officials are likely to increase their focus on preventing similar incidents in the future. Additional safety measures and stricter compliance checks will be crucial during the remaining festive period.
For now, the community looks forward to a safe and joyful conclusion to the holiday season, encouraged by the effective management of recent emergencies and a strengthened commitment to safety protocols.
