By Ryan Thompson
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

JAY STREET – It was a chaotic scene Thursday afternoon in Downtown Brooklyn.

Over a dozen fire, police and rescue vehicles swarmed the Marriott building around lunchtime, after a fire broke out on the 21st floor of the non-hotel portion of the building.

The fire turned out to be small. But the evacuation was massive.

The entire building located at 335 Adams St./350 Jay St. appeared to be evacuated. Prosecutors, city attorneys, criminals, secret-service agents, and hotel guests lined the streets surrounding Renaissance Plaza.

“I definitely heard an explosion,� one woman said to her friend outside.

“I smelled smoke for sure,� said another.

Initial reports to the Eagle were that there was an explosion at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. Those reports turned out to be untrue, as the small fire erupted on the 21st floor, directly above the D.A.’s office and below the U.S. Secret Service.

The fire was not suspicious and appeared to be electrical in nature, said Anthony Nardella, director of fire safety for Brooklyn Renaissance Plaza and Muss Development, LLC, as he led firefighters through the lobby.

No serious injuries were reported, but according to an FDNY spokesman, five people were taken to Long Island College Hospital with minor complications and for smoke inhalation.

There was a call that was heard coming over a firefighter’s radio asking for a medical stretcher to be brought upstairs.

Several people were also seen outside Renaissance Plaza suffering from asthma attacks. Once EMS crews arrived, the people were treated with oxygen. EMTs and paramedics responded in full force at yesterday’s scene.

It was an “all hands� call for firefighters. Nardella said the heavy response was “because of the nature of the building.�

Over 12 units responded, including the Tillary Tigers and Red Hook Raiders. Over 60 firefighters in all were on the scene.

Armed with axes, hammers, giant crowbars and metal poles, the firefighters strapped on their oxygen tanks and marched into the 32-story tower.

The fire, which broke out at approximately 12:45 p.m., was under control within an hour. But water continued to leak and seep through floors, causing additional concerns that another electrical fire could potentially erupt.

Hundreds of people were sent home, and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office closed most of their offices for the day. Even District Attorney Charles Hynes was forced to cut his day short.

As for the many employees who had their workday cut in half, reports yesterday confirmed that O’Keefes bar on Court Street was completely packed.

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