Manhattan Fire Erupts Atop Legendary Bowery Art Building

UPDATE, Aug. 8, 8:30 p.m.: The fire has been declared under control by fire officials. No injuries have been reported.

NOLITA, MANHATTAN — A massive fire broke out at 190 Bowery around 7:45 p.m. Monday, sending bright flames and large plumes of smoke over Lower Manhattan, according to witness photos and video posted online.

Approximately 60 firefighters had responded to the blaze by 8 p.m., according to the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY).

No injuries had been reported at that time, an FDNY spokesman said.

The FDNY reported the fire's location at 199 Bowery, a boutique condo building down the street.

However, photos from the scene showed it was in fact the vacant Germania Bank Building at 190 Bowery — a historical landmark and legendary artist's hangout currently being converted into high-end office space — whose roof was on fire Monday night.

According to the art blog Mass Appeal, photographer Jay Maisel, who lived in the Germania Bank Building for decades, sold it to real-estate tycoon Aby Rosen two years ago for $55 million.

Since then, the developer has reportedly buffed much of the building's iconic graffiti from its exterior and tricked out its innards with gorgeous new facades, skylights, etc.

Witnesses on the street recorded photos and video of Monday night's dramatic fire, which appeared to have started on the rooftop of the ornate 6-story building.