1 Man Dead, 6 Firefighters Hurt Following 4-Alarm Fire At Trump Tower
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A man has died of his injuries following a four-alarm fire at Trump Tower.
The FDNY responded to an automatic alarm that sounded on the 50th floor of the high-rise on Fifth Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
"We were smelling the smoke, and it was really scary, and we had to leave the store," one witness told CBS2's Lisa Rozner.
"I saw like a load of debris smashing windows, and then that's when they were like you've got to get out," said witness Will Hammonds.
"Then all of a sudden, as we were going up the escalator, there was this massive noise," a woman added.
The FDNY said 200 firefighters and EMS workers responded within minutes.
"The apartment was virtually entirely on fire. They pushed in heroically, they were knocking down the fire, they found one occupant of the apartment on the 50th floor," Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.
The victim, identified as 67-year-old Todd Brassner, was rushed to Mount Sinai West hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Six firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The fire commissioner said two were burned in the blaze.
Nigro also said there were no members of the First Family home at the time, and Secret Service members were checking the family's residence for smoke damage.
President Donald Trump posted on Twitter, saying the fire is out.
"Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built building). Firemen (and women) did a great job. THANK YOU!" he tweeted.
Eric Trump tweeted, as well, thanking first responders.
"Thank you to the amazing men and women of the NYFD who extinguished a fire in a residential apartment at @TrumpTower. The @FDNY and @NYPD are truly some of the most incredible people anywhere!" he posted.
Late Saturday night, the flames were under control, but crews were still on the scene checking on smoke conditions.
The fire also forced road closures in the area.
This comes about three months after another fire broke out in a cooling tower on the roof of the high-rise, which houses both residences and businesses. Two people suffered minor injuries.
The cause of Saturday's fire is under investigation.
