August 18, 2007
Deutsche Bank building on fire next to WTC site

The Deutsche Bank building, which has been closed since it was badly damaged on Sept. 11, 2001, is on fire in downtown Manhattan. More to come.

On scene, flames could be seen on the east side, abut 15 floors from the top, and also on the south side on an even higher floor and at least one piece of fiery debris could be seen falling amid the scaffolding.

(NewYorkology editor Amy Langfield happened to be several blocks up on West Broadway around 4:30 when heavy smoke could be seen coming from Ground Zero. More pictures to come.)

In May, two firemen at the station across the street suffered minor injuries when a 15-foot sprinkler pipe fell from the 35th floor of the Deutsche Bank building during the dismantling process. See here for pictures of the skyscraper shortly after the demolition started in March of this year.

Thousands of tourists went about their souvenir shopping and picture posing this afternoon despite the smell of acrid smoke, which was eerily similar to the smell of Lower Manhattan for weeks after the 2001 terror attacks.

6:30 p.m. update: NY1 is now reporting that the fire started on the 20th floor and is believed to have been electrical in nature.



Earlier: Firemen hurt as pipe falls from WTC deconstruction site
Deutsche Bank deconstruction starts at Ground Zero
Memorial honors 343 firemen killed on Sept. 11
Freedom Tower construction prep work starts today
August 18, 2007 05:28 PM in Downtown
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