New York City, USA – Thick black smoke rose high into the sky as a rooftop fire broke out at a high-rise building on East 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan.

Bright orange flames were seen erupting from the HVAC system and cooling tower on the roof, while dense plumes drifted over nearby skyscrapers and avenues.

The intense scene unfolded from multiple vantage points at street level and nearby locations, with emergency responders operating below as sirens sounded and onlookers either watched or continued preparations. The incident occurred just one block from the starting line of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade route on Fifth Avenue between Madison and Fifth avenues.

The fire began at around 9:45 a.m. on March 17, 2026, at 6 East 43rd Street. An all-hands response from FDNY brought more than 140 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene.

The blaze was quickly brought under control by about 10:45 a.m., with no structural collapse or major damage reported. Two people were treated for minor smoke inhalation injuries.

The poster described it as “Best angle of Midtown fire:”

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