A two-alarm fire that broke out in a seven-story, cast-iron building at 45 White Street in Tribeca, New York City, on January 22 left at least two firefighters injured, 20 residents displaced, and the owner of a gym in the building out of business.
It took over 100 firefighters and EMS personnel about four hours to extinguish the fire, which began at 11:45 pm inside the building’s basement. Smoke spread throughout the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation, although one tenant speaking to Tribeca Citizen said that a fire marshal commented it was due to “electrical and building wiring.”
While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the building is closed, with information scarce as to when residents will be able to return including the gym’s owner, O-D Studio. Oscar Smith, who has operated the basement gym for 22 years, has lost all his equipment due to the fire. Two art galleries on the ground floor of the building were also damaged.
