Firefighters rushed to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City Saturday evening after a fire broke out on the iconic East River suspension bridge during the city’s annual Independence Day fireworks show. The 140-year-old span was closed as a precaution after flames erupted just after 9pm local time. According to eyewitnesses, the fire appears to have started near the bridge’s Manhattan anchorage. “It looked like a tiny little fire, but then it just spread really quickly,” said Jane Smith, a tourist who watched the fireworks display. Firefighters were seen spraying water on the blaze as smoke billowed into the air. The New York Fire Department (FDNY) confirmed that the fire was extinguished by 10pm local time. However, the Brooklyn Bridge remained closed to traffic until early Sunday morning.
Firefighters spraying water on the blaze on the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge Fire on Saturday night
The Brooklyn Bridge closed due to the fire
The incident has sparked concerns about the maintenance and safety of the Brooklyn Bridge, a popular tourist destination. “We are working to determine the cause of the fire and conducting a full security sweep of the area,” said a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Transportation. The fire broke out as hundreds of thousands of people gathered to watch the fireworks show on both sides of the East River. The show was not cancelled, but the blaze cast a eerie glow over the display. The National Mall in Washington D.C. was the site of another large fireworks show earlier in the evening. The Brooklyn Bridge fire was the latest incident to hit major US landmarks in recent weeks. Last month, a fire damaged a historic theater in Washington D.C. causing millions of dollars in damage. The causes of both incidents are under investigation.