A few weeks ago, a fire marshal came to my workplace. He went from floor to floor for a quick debriefing about fire safety with tips ranging from the obvious (make sure all of your co-workers know about the fire) to the absurd (always carry a flashlight with you). “Don’t worry if there’s a fire,” he said, “Even though firefighters will have to climb a few stairs to get to you, everyone will be safe.” I glanced out the 32nd floor window and wasn’t so sure.
To do my part, I volunteered to check the unisex bathroom on our floor in case of emergency. I thought this added a touch of irony to the meeting, as I’m the one always talking about the bathroom, from how long I’ve been waiting while the current occupant seems to have fallen asleep to who is sneaking up from the 31st floor where there are two much nicer bathrooms that ours. There’s enough drama over toilet paper and soap at work - I’d hate to add deadly flames and smoke to the mix.
I was walking along Broadway this morning when this man on the street gestured for me to look up. Black smoke spilled out of a window high up. The high-rise building is nicer than mine, complete with a doorman and majestic views. Oh, and the potential to completely roast to death if a neighbor falls asleep smoking or you leave the iron on all Thanksgiving weekend.
*I’ve actually done the latter. It was stupid and I’m glad nothing happened, besides that one spot on the floor being really warm. Thank goodness for low settings.
Fire trucks screeched down the street, followed by ambulances and more fire trucks. Passersby stood transfixed as the FDNY got to work. Though I know they perform a heroic service, I’d never seen firemen at work.
Here’s the smoke from on high. TBID told me that most apartments have fireproof walls to contain fires, and this appears to be the case here.
This guy worked on the hydrant and then quickly ran to the scene.
I hope no one was hurt. At this point, I don’t know. The FDNY was prepared for everything.
They lugged oxygen tanks, axes, and hoses.
Another fireman pushed everyone on the sidewalk back and then put up yellow tape. In a matter of minutes, glass and wood started raining down. Then lots of water. Some people coming out of Duane Reade were startled to see what was going on. They’d been in line a long time, as always.
I eventually crossed Broadway and saw that much more was going on at the building entrance on 106th Street. Everyone looked calm.
I started to think about other fires, and remembered that I saw one across the street from where the fire was today, in a smaller apartment building above a KFC, about two years ago. This is not a tasteless joke, I swear: Both of these buildings are close to this jazz club.
