A tanker truck containing liquid oxygen caught fire near Bellevue Hospital on Tuesday morning, prompting a major hazmat response by the Fire Department.
Photo by Dean Moses
A tanker truck containing liquid oxygen caught fire near Bellevue Hospital on Tuesday morning, prompting a major hazmat response by the Fire Department.
The FDNY said the fire erupted near 502 1st Ave., between East 29th and East 30th Streets, just before 11:40 a.m. on July 7.Â
Approximately 21 units with 79 FDNY and EMS personnel, including Haz-Mat Unit 1, responded to the incident and found the rear of the oxygen tanker truck engulfed in flames.
According to Fire Department sources, the driver was delivering liquid oxygen to Bellevue Hospital for medical use when the fire erupted.Â
Operations were still ongoing as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Fire Department said units were checking surrounding buildings for any contamination.Â
No injuries have been reported.
The incident added to what has been a chaotic day in Midtown Manhattan. The FDNY and other first responders had to evacuate numerous buildings on East 42nd and East 43rd Streets after workers inside the former Pfizer building at 235 East 42nd St. reported several support beams buckling, putting the skyscraper in danger of collapse.
