TriBeCa Fire: Carbon Monoxide Leak On Murray St. Injures 32, FDNY Says

TRIBECA, NY — At least 32 people are being treated after elevated carbon monoxide levels caused a small fire in a lower Manhattan building, according to the fire department.

A fire department spokesman told Patch that the incident was reported at about 8:28 on Tuesday morning near 60 Murray St. Fire officials said that elevated carbon monoxide levels were recorded at the 12-story building and that firefighters spent about two hours battling a small fire in the building's basement.

About 32 people were treated, authorities said. Most of those patients had minor injuries and were being treated on scene, but some patients were transported to the hospital, the FDNY spokesman said. Authorities initially said that 34 people had been injured in the incident, but later lower the number of injuries to 32.

The fire department eventually declared the fire under control at about 10:40 a.m., after evacuating all units at 60 Murray St. Authorities say that they searched adjacent structures for high carbon monoxide levels as well. The fire was apparently started by a defective oil burner, according to the FDNY. The pipe emitting the carbon monoxide has been capped and CO levels in the building are dropping, officials said after the fire was extinguished.

Shortly after the fire was called in, residents in the building reported a suspicious package that emitted powder when they opened it, authorities said. Investigators with the NYPD's bomb squad located the package and determined that it was not a threat.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for updates, or subscribe here for free, breaking news alerts from Patch.

Lead image via FDNY.