A fire occurred on the roof of a high-rise building at 6 East 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan on March 17, 2026. The fire was reported at 9:46 a.m. and was brought under control by 11:46 a.m., following a 90-minute effort by firefighters.
The fire started in the building’s HVAC system, specifically within the cooling tower. Three individuals suffered minor injuries related to smoke inhalation, but no serious injuries were reported.
Despite the fire, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade stepped off at 11 a.m. without delay, with an estimated two million people lining Fifth Avenue to celebrate the occasion. FDNY Deputy Chief Brian Whiston stated, “The fire did not impact the parade, but it was not in a convenient location.”
The building, which is currently undergoing renovation into 441 rental units—including 111 affordable housing units—is largely vacant except for a venue operating on the ground level. This venue, T-Squared Social, occupies 20,000 square feet and was not affected by the fire.
Fire marshals and inspectors are expected to assess the site to ensure compliance with safety codes as workers return to their tasks. Whiston noted, “The workers are back in, they’re doing their work, and the fire marshals and the inspectors will be in there to see if they’re following the codes and making sure everything’s going the way it’s supposed to be.”
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact cause of the fire, which is still under investigation. The incident highlights the challenges of managing emergency situations during large public events like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
