'16-Ton Load' Crashed to Ground in Manhattan Crane Collapse, Says FDNY

Storyful
1 年前

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and other officials addressed media on Wednesday morning, July 26, after a crane caught fire and collapsed in Manhattan, causing minor injuries to several people.

FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer said a fire was reported in the crane’s engine compartment, “about 45 stories up,” at around 7:25 am. As firefighters responded, the crane partially collapsed, Pfeifer said.

“The top part of the crane, the boom, and a 16-ton load crashed to the ground,” Pfeifer said. “We have four injuries to civilians and two to our firefighters,” he added, noting that the injuries were minor.

“This could have been a lot worse,” Pfeifer said.

Pfeifer said a crane operator was lifting 16 tons of concrete when he saw the fire had started. The operator tried to extinguish the fire, Pfeifer said, but got overwhelmed by the blaze and had to exit the crane.

Mayor Adams said he was thankful the injuries were minor and praised the FDNY’s response to the fire.

Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo said the crane was being used in the construction of a 54-story mixed-use building. Credit: NYPD via Storyful