Flames broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge during the Macy's 4th of July fireworks display on Saturday, July 4, 2026, prompting an emergency response during America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
The New York Post reported that the blaze emerged from at least three sections of the structure over the East River.
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Firefighters responded to the scene after large plumes of smoke became visible to spectators.
"At first I thought it was supposed to happen but then I was scared it would explode.
I thought the bridge was made of wood so I was scared," said an unnamed witness to the New York Post.
The witness added that some extra fireworks exploded due to the fire.
The bridge had been closed to traffic during the pyrotechnic show.
According to the FDNY, two fire engines were deployed to extinguish the flames, and crews successfully put out the blaze shortly before 10 p.
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m. Officials reported no injuries from the incident.
A source with knowledge of the response told the New York Post that the fires originated on platforms specifically installed to launch the fireworks.
The source noted that the 143-year-old bridge sustained no damage and remains safe and structurally sound.
An FDNY spokesperson stated to the Associated Press that such fires are not unexpected during large pyrotechnic events, which is why officials maintain a strict distance between the crowds and the launching display.
The event expanded across the Brooklyn Bridge, the Lower East River, and the Lower Hudson River for the first time, featuring 85,000 shells and 20,000 special effects launched from six barges and hundreds of bridge positions.
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The spectacle aired nationally on NBC's 50th annual fireworks special hosted by Terry Crews.
