Possible cause of fire to NYC crane that collapsed revealed
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.
The 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.
Three 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.
