UNION SQUARE — A massive fire broke out in a recording studio near Union Square Monday afternoon, shutting down Fifth Avenue for several blocks and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
The fire started in Human studio, on the third floor of 138 Fifth Ave., between 18th and 19th streets, just after noon, the FDNY and witnesses said.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours, as flames spread down to the second floor, before bringing the fire under control about 2:30 p.m., according to the FDNY.
Sloan Alexander, 35, Human's creative director, said the fire appeared to start in the studio's walls.
"Smoke was coming from the back of the third floor toward the front," Alexander said. "After 10 minutes, it got unbearable. It was coming in through the vents. There was so much smoke, you couldn't see."
"All of our equipment is ruined," said Marc Altshuler, Human's managing partner. "Probably 25 guitars and hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment."
No injuries were reported, FDNY officials said.
