What to Know
- A 17-story Manhattan hotel experienced a fuel spill bigger than most spills of its kind — as 300 gallons of diesel fuel filled the basement
- No injuries were reported but hotel guests were evacuated
- Video posted to the Citizen app showed a major emergency response at the scene, with fire engines flooding the area
A 17-story Manhattan hotel experienced a fuel spill bigger than most spills of its kind — as 300 gallons of diesel fuel filled the basement, the FDNY says.
Fire officials say they got a call about the spill at the skyscraper on West 41st Street and Broadway around 8:30 a.m. The Department of Environmental Protection also responded. Fire officials indicated their response would take awhile.
No injuries were reported, although the FDNY says that hotel guests were evacuated.
The FDNY told NBC 4 New York that the spill occurred after a fuel delivery for the Knickerbocker Hotel's backup generators spilled.
The scene was under control and considered to be in the "containment phase" of the spill by Friday afternoon, since there was no risk of fire or sparks, according to the FDNY.
The department added that the cellar and sub-cellar levels were sealed off as hazmat and FDNY manages the situation.
Video posted to the Citizen app showed a major emergency response at the scene, with fire engines flooding the area. The New York City Office of Emergency Management tweeted that drivers should expect traffic delays and road closures in the area because of the heavy presence of emergency personnel.
