Three hurt in fire at top of Trump’s skyscraper

THREE people were injured in an earlymorning fire at the top of Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, the New York Fire Department said yesterday, as the city’s workday rush began.

US President Donald Trump was in Washington at the time.

Trump’s primary residence was in the building before his election victory and inauguration nearly a year ago.

One firefighter was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while two people received minor injuries that were treated at the scene, including a building worker whose injury was at first described as serious, the Fire Department said.

Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons, said on Twitter that it was a small electrical fire in the cooling tower on the building’s roof.

“The New York Fire Department was here within minutes and did an incredible job,” the younger Trump said. “The men and women of the #FDNY are true heros [sic] and deserve our most sincere thanks and praise!”

The Fire Department said the fire was not inside the building, but on top of it. “We had flames coming out of the vents. “No smoke condition or fire was on the inside,” Manhattan Borough Command Assistant Chief Roger Sakowich said on Twitter.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated by the city fire marshal.

As firefighters battled the blaze, a plume of smoke spewed from the roof of the 68storey structure.

The fire was reported by phone shortly before 7am on the top floor of the building, and was declared under control about 75 minutes later.

About 84 firefighters and medical crews responded as 26 emergency units with lights flashing converged on the crowded midtown Manhattan location. – Reuters