The Associated Press
AP Photo/David Karp
FDNY members arrive at the landmark James A. Farley U.S. Post Office in Manhattan Wednesday. A fire official says insulation on a "gigantic" electrical cable caught fire, leading to the evacuation of the historic building. |
NEW YORK — A New York City fire official says insulation on an electrical cable caught fire, leading to the evacuation of a historic post office in midtown Manhattan.
Deputy Fire Chief John Bley says the fire at the sprawling national landmark building, across from Madison Square Garden, was extinguished when the insulation burned up on the cable.
Firefighters responded about 11 p.m. Tuesday to reports of heavy smoke pouring from the James A. Farley U.S. Post Office, which is open 24 hours a day.
Eight employees and about 20 customers were evacuated. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.
A spokeswoman for Consolidated Edison, which owns the cable, says crews are investigating what happened.
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