Overview
- A parked vehicle caught fire and then erupted into a large explosion near Broadway and Stone Street, sending thick black smoke over the Charging Bull and startling bystanders in the Financial District on Tuesday evening.
- Eyewitness and social‑media video showed the car rapidly engulfed in flames and then bursting into a fireball that sent people fleeing behind police barriers.
- Firefighters from the FDNY and NYPD units fought the blaze for more than an hour and brought it under control shortly before 7 p.m., and authorities reported no injuries.
- Reporting differs on ownership: the New York Post says the MTA confirmed the vehicle was one of its own while other outlets cite officials who have not verified ownership or whether the vehicle was in service, and the MTA referred further questions to the FDNY.
- An official investigation is open, with mechanical failure and technical faults being considered, and city officials will review the scene and safety procedures at the busy tourist and finance landmark.