The Broadway theater that houses The Book of Mormon caught fire Monday morning, with fire officials describing it as a three-alarm fire.
NYFD received a call of a report of fire at 10:03 a.m. Monday at 230 West 49th, with 63 units since responding to the scene, consisting of 192 fireman and EMS workers. The production says the building was cleared safely of personnel, and the situation is ongoing.
The fire was in the electrical room between floors four and five, fire department officials said at a presser shortly after the incident. After that fire was dealt with, another outbreak was dealt with between floor five and the roof of the building that involved a lot of electrical equipment. One firefighter was injured while responding to the blaze. The building will be out of service pending repairs with “substantial damage” in the fourth floor of the electrical room, as detailed by the NYFD.
A spokesperson for the production said there was no word yet on how many shows will be canceled. The show was scheduled for an eight-show week starting Tuesday night.
As of 12:30 p.m. ET, the action appeared to be dying down and there were no smoke or flames visible from the street, though a smoky smell persisted in the air. Personnel could be seen looking at the second floor of the building, as EMS workers and firefighters stood outside nearby.
A three-alarm fire is classified as being a danger and having increased risk for those affected, including the firefighters.
“The NYFD is at the site of the fire now and are handling matters at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. Everyone has been safely removed from the theater. We will keep all parties abreast of this developing situation,” a spokesperson for the production said around noon ET Monday.
A fire crew outside the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on May 4.
Caitlin Huston/THR
A firefighter outside the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on May 4.
A fire crew entering the Eugene O’Neill Theatre.
Caitlin Huston/THR