Journalism of Courage
A car fire on the Brooklyn-bound side of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge brought traffic to a standstill on Friday, just as the city’s evening rush hour was beginning, according to the FDNY, as cited by Daily Express US. Thick black smoke rose from a burning SUV, prompting authorities to halt traffic and warn drivers of significant delays.
The FDNY confirmed that a call reporting the fire came in at 2:06 pm local time, and one engine and one ladder company responded.
“Due to a vehicle fire in the Brooklyn-bound lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge, expect delays and consider alternate routes,” the New York Police Department (NYPD) posted on X.
https://twitter.com/NYPDnews/status/1981796151184515327 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWitnesses described seeing the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. One local posted on social media, according to US Sun: “A couple of minutes ago, cycling through the Brooklyn Bridge bike lane. Couldn’t really see what was really going on, but a car caught on fire.”
Footage circulating on X showed thick black smoke and emergency sirens approaching the scene, with the bridge temporarily closed to traffic in both directions.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which sees more than 1,03,000 vehicles and nearly 30,000 pedestrians daily, according to NYC DOT 2024 data, has previously been the site of serious incidents.
In May 2025, the Mexican Navy’s ship, ARM Cuauhtémoc, collided with the bridge while reversing, snapping all three masts and causing the deaths of two cadets and injuries to 19 others, according to US Sun. Earlier in 2018, a morning crash involving a Ford pickup sparked a six-car pileup and fire that killed 32-year-old Kristopher Hambas after his Volkswagen ignited along with three other vehicles.
No official cause for Friday’s car fire has been released. FDNY crews were able to contain the blaze, but the vehicle may have been fully engulfed before they arrived, reported Daily Express US.
