Christmas market fire ‘destroys at least four shops’ as firefighters battle flames in popular winter village

On By Littum

Firefighters tackled a popular Christmas market today after a fire broke out in one of its stalls.

The Winter Village, in Bryant Park in New York City, was engulfed in flames Friday morning — sending plumes of black smoke across the Big Apple.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after 1 p.m.

Multiple footage from the scene showed smoke pouring over the site, right next to the New York Public Library and blocks from landmarks like the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center.

Firefighters and fire at market

Firefighters rushed to the scene in Bryant Park

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The fire destroyed at least four pop-up retailers and damaged a fifth, according to reporters on the scene.

One of those reporters, Howard Weiss, shared clips of the New York City Fire Department looking at charred debris in the aftermath of the fire.

“Get out, get out, let’s go, get out, get out,” a security guard at the park can be heard shouting to onlookers in a video shared on social media as the flames at one stall intensified.

It’s still unclear what caused the inferno — but New York’s emergency department warned commuters to expect traffic delays and road closures in the area.

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Brand on the market

The Winter Village, in Bryant Park in New York City, was engulfed in flames Friday morning

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FDNY Battalion Chief Joe Castellano said the cause of the fire was under investigation — and confirmed there were no injuries in the fire.

But he also warned that the roof of an ice rink at Bryant Park suffered some damage in the inferno.

A statement from the park on social media read: “We are grateful for the FDNY’s quick response to the incident that occurred earlier today.

“The Rink and The Lodge are currently open. Most of The Holiday Shops have reopened and we expect all the Holiday Shops that were not affected by the fire to reopen later today.”

New York map

The fire broke out blocks away from landmarks like the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center

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The fire is not the only one that has rocked New York this Christmas season – Friday’s incident is the second of its kind in almost two weeks.

Another fire broke out at the Herald Square Holiday Market on Dec. 16, with at least 60 firefighters and emergency responders jumping into action on Broadway between West 35th and West 36th Streets.

A firefighter was seriously injured in the incident.