NYC crane fire collapse: News 12 reporter provides firsthand account of frightening scene

News 12 reporter Jade Nash, who lives in the area of 10th Avenue and 41st Street, was an eyewitness to the scene.

News 12 Staff

Jul 26, 2023, 4:28 PM

Updated 409 days ago

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A terrifying scenario unfolded in the Manhattan today as a crane caught fire and collapsed, prompting a chaotic and dangerous situation for those nearby.
News 12 reporter Jade Nash, who lives in the area of 10th Avenue and 41st Street, was an eyewitness to the scene.
Nash described the shocking moment when the arm of the crane fell to the ground, crushing scaffolding along 10th Avenue. Nash promptly grabbed her phone to record the scene while observing that parts of the crane remained intact but were engulfed in flames. Emergency crews were quickly deployed to surrounding rooftops, attempting to contain the fire.
A firefighter knocked on Nash's door, instructing her to evacuate the area. Outside, she joined a throng of spectators watching the emergency personnel battling the flames. On the ground, Nash spoke with a construction worker who was on the top deck of the site when the fire broke out. He recounted his colleagues' unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the fire, leading him to make a daring escape down 42 flights of stairs.
The New York City mayor’s office says that four civilians and two firefighters people sustained minor injuries.