W42ST
Hell's Kitchen attitude, New York state of mind
A New Year’s night walk home in Hell’s Kitchen took an unexpected turn just after midnight, when a car caught fire on 9th Avenue near W53rd Street — drawing a crowd of surprised revelers and a rapid response from the FDNY.
According to the FDNY, a call reporting a car fire at 9th Avenue and W53rd Street was received at 12:29am. The incident was closed out normally at 12:55am and no injuries were reported.
W42ST reader Nancy Chandross, a Hell’s Kitchen resident, said she and her boyfriend were standing at the corner of 9th and 53rd when they heard a sudden loud noise.
“We heard a boom, turned to look north and saw a car had burst into flames,” Chandross wrote in an email to W42ST. “All the NYE revelers on the street were looking on in awe.”
Photos taken by her boyfriend, Levi Nayman, show flames pushing up from the front of the SUV and thick smoke rising into the night as emergency lights illuminated the avenue. In later images, firefighters appear to have the situation under control, with the vehicle’s hood area visibly charred and smoke lingering as crews worked.
Chandross said two fire trucks arrived and extinguished the blaze, and that “no one seemed to be hurt.” She called it a “dramatic start to the year.”
At this stage, it’s not clear what caused the fire. W42ST has requested additional details, including whether the vehicle was occupied at the time and whether any nearby cars were damaged.
Publisher & Editor Phil O’Brien is an entrepreneur and journalist. As an international photojournalist, he photographed Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana and many others. He built a successful international sports photography agency, EMPICS, that was Getty Images’ major competitor in Europe when it sold. He founded a children’s charity in the UK that has helped young people through sport for over 15 years. Phil has lived in New York since 2012. He founded W42ST in 2014.
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W42ST is a hyperlocal media brand celebrating Hell’s Kitchen. We use high-quality journalism to keep residents, visitors, business owners, and workers in-the-know about what’s happening in the fastest-growing, most authentic area of New York City. With every story we build genuine trust and ensure that this community is connected and invested.
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