Video: Taxi Cab on Fire in Midtown

[UPDATE BELOW] We're getting reports that a taxi cab has exploded at 53rd and 7th Avenue. A tipster tells us: "The gas tank exploded... It was just in the right lane on Seventh Avenue at the light at 53rd Street. I was on Broadway and saw white smoke at first, then huge flames and the entire couple of blocks filled with black smoke. FDNY put it out but I think it took them a while to get there cause it was scorched. I don't think there was anyone inside, at least I hope not."

UPDATE: Another witness tells us that the cab engine starting spewing smoke, and the taxi driver vacated the vehicle. According to our source, "A cop opened the door and it exploded with flames." An employee at restaurant Brasserie Maison, located where the cab exploded, tells us, "There's a car on fire, that's all. Nobody got hurt. But I'm a really busy right now, I have to go." Cab fires: Good for the restaurant industry? Developing...

UPDATE: Brian at MostlyWeather has video of the fire—smoke entirely fills that stretch of Seventh Avenue!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on September 3, 2009 12:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

This is hot.

NannyState

Note to cabbies: next time, don't leave the Chicken Vindaloo under your seat.

Brooklyn

"Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one. "

GREGORYABUTLER

Fight Club Reference!

maevemealone

All the cabs lined up to the right look like nervous cattle at the slaughterhouse, waiting their turn....

weenie

any word on whether or not that cabbie saved his medallion? sh*t. street value for that is at least 200k!!!

whitecastlerock

Were any cyclists inconvenienced by the acrid smoke?

The Edge

Don't worry, TA will release a statement later today.

"If that cabbie had been riding a bike..."

doo

That video is awesome! I especially like how fully 100% of the other people in the shot also have their camera phones out. The world is weird.

razzledazzle

Funnier and weirder are the people walking by as if nothing is happening. Just another fire in the street.

coconutendo

That'll buff right out.

coconutendo

That'll buff right out.

Mr Mel

"That'll buff right out."

Now that's funny.

Aveais Essex

Yeah! Fuck that cab and fuck all cabbies! I hate them just like you guys because they smell and drive fast and talk on their phones to relatives back home while taking me wherever I want to go at any time. They all deserve to fucking die!

Goobers.

Nyctini11

Take the subway then, or call a car service, don't sit here and complain when you clearly continue to take taxi's.

valeriob

what planet are you from?

ides_of_march

The city clearly has to get to working on some new signs that say "don't even THINK of bursting into flames here."

blondeinthecity

so, my boss lives at 53rd and 7th... I am actually about to take a cab to his place to drop off some stuff. Not looking forward to that.