Thick plumes of smoke and flames were seen from the street of the rooftop of a 13-story New York landmark.

The mixed used building in SoHo on the corner of Broome Street and Broadway was the Old Silk Exchange building, constructed in the late 1800s.


What You Need To Know

  • Thick plumes of smoke and flames were seen from the street of the rooftop of a 13-story New York landmark
  • The mixed used building in SoHo on the corner of Broome Street and Broadway was the Old Silk Exchange building, constructed in the late 1800s

  • FDNY said drones were essential in finding hotspots underneath the wooden decking on the roof

  • The Department of Buildings was called because the NYPD requested a structural stability inspection

“The super of the building realized the smoke, and he ran up and down the stairs and asked everyone to empty the building,” resident Koki Doktori said.

Residents of the building, both human and canine, filed out onto the street as crews battled the high-rise blaze.

“When you tell 10 or 12 dogs that live in the building that they have to come down on the stairs, it’s more than they can handle,” tenant Nick Grabar said.

FDNY said drones were essential in finding hotspots underneath the wooden decking on the roof.

“This is a challenging fire in this type of structure,” FDNY Acting Deputy Chief Jared Garitano said. “Members did an outstanding job quickly extinguishing the fire, preventing extension.”

The Department of Buildings was called because the NYPD requested a structural stability inspection.

“It’s always thrilling to see how many firefighters show up and how fast in a situation like this in New York City. It’s really unbelievable,” Grabar said.

The Red Cross said all residents were able to return home or self-relocate. The cause of fire remains under investigation.