The fire on a construction crane that partially collapsed in Manhattan Wednesday may have been caused by a hydraulic fluid leak in the machine’s engine compartment, sources told The Post.
While an official cause of the blaze has not been determined, it is believed to be accidental, according to the preliminary investigation.
Two sources told The Post the working theory among investigators is that hydraulic fluid leaked from the engine compartment onto a heated metal plate, igniting the fire on the crane’s machine deck.
The crane, stationed 45 stories high at 10th Ave. between West 41st and West 42nd streets in Hell’s Kitchen, caught fire around 7:30 a.m. as workers moved a 16-ton load of concrete, officials said.
The machine’s 180-foot-long boom then collapsed, striking a building across the street at 555 10th Ave. before crashing to the street below, dramatic footage showed.
Twelve people were injured in the incident.
Twelve people were hurt after a crane caught fire and collapsed in Manhattan on Wednesday morning. FDNY / Instagram
Glass and debris rained down on the street below after the crash, sending pedestrians running for their lives. Getty Images
The smoke from the crane fire could be seen throughout the city Wednesday. Paula Pant, @affordanything via StoryfulThe operator, who was on the machine at the time, tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, but was unable to do so and fled for his life, FDNY First Deputy Fire Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer told reporters.
More than 200 firefighters and emergency workers responded to the scene.
Hotels and nearby buildings were temporarily evacuated as a result of the crane collapse. Robert Miller
Sources said the crash may have been caused by leaked hydraulic fluid that ignited on the crane’s machine deck. Lev Radin/Sipa USAThree firefighters were among the dozen people injured in the incident, the FDNY said.
At least three of the victims were hospitalized. Fortunately none of the injuries were serious, despite four people being struck by the falling debris.
Monadnock Construction Inc., which operated the crane, confirmed that some of its employees were among those hurt.
The crane is owned by the New York City Crane & Equipment Corp., Department of Buildings officials said at a press conference.
The Queens-based company was founded and operated by the late James Lomma, a controversial, bombastic Staten Island native who dubbed himself the “King of Cranes.” He died in 2019.
City records show that the crane, built in 2009, was up to date on all required certificates and licensing.
