Liberty Island Fire Forces Evacuation, Injures Worker, FDNY Says

LIBERTY ISLAND, NY — Liberty Island was evacuated Monday after three 100-pound propane tanks caught fire, an FDNY spokeswoman said.

The fire broke out at a construction site on the north side of the island shortly after 11:50 a.m., the spokeswoman said. The two-alarm fire was placed under control shortly after 1:30 p.m., fire officials said. More than 3,000 civilians on Liberty Island were evacuated by boat to Ellis Island and back to Manhattan, fire officials said.

One construction worker was injured during the fire and suffered non life-threatening injuries, officials said.

The situation could have been "catastrophic" had one of the propane tanks exploded, FDNY Assistant Chief Roger Sakowich said Monday.

"With that much propane, had one of the tanks exploded – it was would have been catastrophic. We took the precaution to evacuate 3,400 civilians from the island," Sakowich said.

The propane tanks were located just 200 feet from the base of the Statue of Liberty, Sakowich said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters were transported to the scene by boats from the Wall Street Pier 11 ferry landing in the financial district, according to reporters on the scene. Officials warned of traffic delays in the area between Pier 11 and Battery Park due to an increased presence of emergency personnel.

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