Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display over the East River on Saturday came to a sudden halt after a series of fires broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The blazes erupted on a temporary platform that was installed specifically to roll out the pyrotechnics instead of on the actual permanent bridge itself. Horrified witnesses shared more about how the fires produced some very visible flames and thick plumes of black smoke, giving rise to a moment of brief panic among spectators who feared the giant 143-year-old span might end up exploding in the end.
The minor flames burned for nearly one minute before they were completely extinguished. The Fire Department of New York responded quickly to this scene with two engines to better secure the area.
As per officials and sources that were familiar with this matter, the bridge ended up suffering no structural damage and still remains completely safe and sound for use by the public.
The short disruption arose amid the city's bigger Independence Day celebrations, which marked the country's 250th anniversary milestone.