New York, USA – Thick black smoke and bright orange flames erupted from a high-rise building on East 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan on March 17, 2026, around 9:45 a.m.

The fire originated in the building’s rooftop HVAC system and cooling tower. Dense plumes of smoke rose above the surrounding skyscrapers as FDNY ladder trucks and engine companies positioned on the street below, emergency lights flashing amid urban traffic.

Firefighters directed operations on the ground, with over 140 FDNY and EMS personnel responding. The blaze was contained within about an hour, with no structural collapse or major damage reported. Two people were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

Despite the dramatic scene unfolding just one block from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade route, the annual parade proceeded on schedule at 11 a.m.

“The FDNY is operating at a fire on East 43rd Street in Manhattan,” the department noted in footage of the active response.

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