NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A fire was contained Friday on the first floor of The Plaza, the storied hotel overlooking Central Park currently undergoing renovation, the Fire Department said. The fire apparently was started by a blowtorch, but was contained in about 15 minutes.
Twelve units and 60 firefighters responded to the Fifth Avenue building at 1:27 p.m. ``They knocked down the main body of the fire,'' said department spokesman Jim Long.
In February, another case of a worker using a blowtorch, accidentally set a stairwell on fire at the Plaza; the fire did not spread and no one was hurt.
The hotel has been closed since April 2005 for renovations and partial conversion to condominiums.
Elad Properties paid $675 million for the fabulous but fraying 20-story landmark in the summer of 2004.
Since its 1907 opening, the 19-story Beaux Arts building has become an integral part of New York City and its lore.
The Beatles stayed there in 1964 while in the city for ``The Ed Sullivan Show,'' Trump used to own it, and author Kay Thompson's famous children's books on Eloise are set there.
In March, contents of The Plaza were auctioned off in preparation for the renovations. Around 1,000 items from the grand hotel's past, from its red bellmen's uniforms, to the gilded metal chairs from its legendary ballroom, were offered for sale.
Money Markets and More for Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snow in Washington, D.C., puts some testimony of interest to Wall Street on hold. Staying connected can cost you; many consumers are spending a bundle on electronics. Did e-tailers get a boost from holiday shoppers?
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