A two-alarm fire at a Williamsburg construction site sent dark plumes of smoke over parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan on Monday evening, prompting a major response from the Fire Department of New York.
The blaze broke out near Bushwick Avenue and Boerum Street, an active construction zone in the heart of Williamsburg. Witnesses across several neighborhoods reported “black smoke and the smell of burning” drifting through the air.
The FDNY confirmed that crews were on-site managing the incident and working to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby residential and commercial buildings. Videos quickly surfaced on social media, showing thick, black smoke rising above the scaffolding and framing of the unfinished structure.
The fire’s visibility drew attention from residents across the East River, with the plume stretching over parts of Brooklyn, lower Manhattan, and surrounding communities. Evening commuters and pedestrians reported hazy conditions and the scent of smoke in the air.
As of the latest updates, officials have not released details regarding injuries or the cause of the fire. Fire marshals are expected to investigate once the site is secured.
Williamsburg, a neighborhood located along the East River directly across from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, has seen a rapid rise in large-scale construction projects over the past decade. The incident underscores the fire risks associated with active development sites in densely populated urban areas.
City agencies have not issued air quality alerts, but residents nearby said the odor of smoke lingered into the evening. No evacuations were immediately reported.
Further updates are expected as the investigation continues and officials assess potential structural damage and safety hazards at the site.
Originally reported by Shamik Banerjee in Hindustan Times.
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