New York landmark catches fire during Fourth of July fireworks display

The Brooklyn Bridge erupted in flames yesterday during a fireworks show to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday.

Footage of the Fourth of July display shows thick black smoke billowing into the night sky from the East River crossing in New York City.

Fires raged on two sections of the bridge while colourful fireworks were launched from the span.

At least four blazes broke out across the bridge at 9.32pm, around 30 minutes into the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show.

The fires were extinguished by 10pm, with the Brooklyn Bridge closed for a further 30 minutes to traffic.

Police believe the fire was ‘very likely’ sparked by the pyrotechnics. No one was injured.

A police source said the ‘minor’ fires broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge’s platforms installed to launch the fireworks, rather than the bridge itself.

Nearing Khoula, who had travelled to New York from France, said she initially thought the fire was part of the display.

‘But then I was scared it would explode,’ she told the New York Post.

‘I thought the bridge was made of wood, so I was scared. There were four at the same time. Some extra fireworks exploded due to the fire.’

Mohamed Shaban, 31, from Egypt, said: ‘It started as a small fire and got bigger. There was too much black smoke.’

Fireworks started more than 32,000 fires in 2023, with July 4 seeing twice as many fires as other days, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The American Red Cross warned in the lead-up to Independence Day

Some 85,000 fireworks lit up the night sky over Brooklyn Bridge Park in 30 colours for the nation’s largest Independence Day celebration.

And there were a fair few reasons to celebrate yesterday – July 4 marked 250 years since the founding of the US.

The day’s headline event in Washington DC was marked by lightning bolts, record-breaking heat and evacuation orders.

Thousands who had gathered to watch the US president’s rally at the National Mall – some queuing for hours in blistering 38 heat – had to take cover in McDonald’s and the Smithsonian museum due to severe storms.

The evacuation order was lifted two hours later, with Donald Trump telling soggy and sunburnt spectators that the rain and lightning bolts were never going to stop him from coming on stage.

‘After two and a half centuries, this American republic still stands tall and strong, and we love each other,’ he said.

‘That showed tonight. You heard it was over, and what happened? You came back!’

Concluding his nearly 40-minute speech – filled with tales of Civil War heroes, scary tales of communists and calls to restrict voting rights – Trump said the crowd would now see a ‘great fireworks display’.

Some 850,000 ‘pyrotechnic effects’ were launched for 35 minutes, according to organisers Freedom 250.

The nonprofit said this figure is ‘record-setting’, with the number to beat being the 810,904 fireworks launched by Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) during its Countdown to 2016 in the Philippines.

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