By Ben Fractenberg and Tom Liddy
DNAinfo Staff
MANHATTAN - An intense fire erupted Thursday evening at the Midtown hi-rise that houses the US headquarters for Burberry, officials said.
The electrical blaze broke out just before 6:45 p.m. at 444 Madison Avenue, near 49th Street, according to the FDNY.
Workers said the building was evacuated minutes later.
"They told us to evacuate," said Joe Hanlon, 28, who works for the British clothier on the 13th floor. "It was kind of shocking."
Burberry moved into the 13th through 16th floors of the building in recent years and adorned the top of the structure with massive, illuminated signs.
The signs are banned, but were grandfathered in at the address, according to the New York Times.
Fire officials said that the fire was contained to a staircase on the 26th floor that was surrounded by brick. In a twist, the brick was designed to keep fire out of the staircase.
The blaze was brought under control just before 7:50 p.m., according to the FDNY.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Bellevue Hospital.
