Fire Tears Through NYC Holiday Market, 18 Vendors Left Ruined [WATCH]

A fire tore through part of the Herald Square holiday market early Monday morning, destroying several vendor booths and leaving one firefighter seriously injured.

There was an early morning fire at the Herald Square holiday market, looks really bad! This is between 35th and 36th streets.

The section directly in front of Macy’s remains open. pic.twitter.com/iywQ2iz25N

— Jeremy Wilcox (@jwilcox79) December 16, 2024

Celebrate Trump’s Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

The blaze, which erupted around 4 a.m., engulfed a section of the market along Broadway between West 35th and West 36th Streets, according to the FDNY.

The fire reduced 18 vendor booths to rubble, leaving behind only the green awnings adorned with garland that once marked the festive corridor.

Vendors at the market, which features a variety of handcrafted gifts, artisanal products, and holiday treats, suffered significant losses in merchandise and income.

The firefighter, who sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries while battling the flames, was transported to NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital.

The FDNY reported that a total of 12 units, including 60 fire and EMS personnel, responded to the scene.

The fire was brought under control within an hour, but its cause remained under investigation as of Tuesday evening.

The affected vendors, who sell items ranging from bratwurst and glass ornaments to T-shirts, are now seeking assistance to recover.

An online fundraiser has been established to support their efforts.

Melissa Glassman, who helps manage one of the shops at the market, expressed shock at the extent of the damage. “It was more than I even imagined,” Glassman said. “I think it’s kind of weird.”

Shoppers visiting the market showed empathy for the vendors while expressing hope that the fire would not disrupt their holiday plans. Marcus G., a 47-year-old shopper who had stopped by the market after visiting Macy’s, shared his perspective. “I don’t think it’s going to affect us as the shoppers,” he said. “If it’s anyone I feel bad for, it’s the vendors. They obviously lost that money—they invested into the shop, but also they lose on the money they can’t make by not opening.”

Another shopper, Mariah Mills, 27, noted that she had noticed the closure of the north side of the market but didn’t realize the cause until reading about the fire. “I hope the vendors are able to open back up before the season is over and make back some of that money they lost,” Mills said.

The market, operated by Urbanspace, had only been open since December 6.

In a statement, Urbanspace expressed its sorrow over the incident. “We are heartbroken to share that a fire occurred early this morning on the north side of our Herald Holiday Market at Broadway and 36th Street, resulting in the destruction of a number of small business booths,” the company said.

“This is a devastating moment for our market family, especially during what should be a joyful holiday season.”

Urbanspace added that it is actively working with local officials to determine the cause of the fire and ensure the safety of the site for the remaining vendors and visitors.

The company is also assisting the affected vendors in their recovery efforts.

Despite the destruction, the unaffected portion of the market, located between 34th and 35th Streets, remains open for holiday shoppers.

As the investigation continues, vendors and community members are rallying together to ensure the spirit of the season endures.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.