Columbus Circle Office Tower Evacuated by Fire

By Serena Solomon and Amy Zimmer

DNAinfo Staff

MIDTOWN — A fire broke in a wall between a Daffy's department store and a Bank of America Monday morning, forcing the 26-story office tower to be evacuated, fire officials and witnesses said.

Firefighters arrived on the scene 1775 Broadway just after 11 a.m. and battled the fire for nearly an hour. No one was injured, according to the FDNY.

A deputy fire chief on the scene said the fire may have been electrical, but the cause was still under investigation.

"I saw flames and told somebody in the Bank of America," said street food vendor Mike Hamdan, who after noticing a fire near the bank's ATMs ran inside to alert the staff there.

A a Daffy's worker said the store expected to reopen after 1 p.m.

"We just have to clean up," the worker said.

The building, which is also listed as 3 Columbus Circle, has had a troubled financial history. Developer Joseph Moinan almost lost the building in foreclosure to Related before SL Green stepped in stepped in to help Moinan.

Several of the building's upper floors are under construction as companies, including Young & Rubicam gear up to move in, according to reports.

"There was smoke," said construction foreman Joe Tenneriello, who saw some in the staircase. "The alarm went off and they evacuated the entire building."

The building was once home to General Motors and to Newsweek.