ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 17, 1990                   TAG: 9007170250
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING FIRE INJURES 35

A fire halfway up the Empire State Building on Monday evening sent flames billowing from shattered windows and chased tourists from the observation deck and workers from throughout the building. At least 31 firefighters and four civilians were injured, most from inhaling smoke.

About 150 firefighters battled the blaze, which was largely confined to four unoccupied offices on the 51st floor, said Don Malva, a Fire Department spokesman. Heavy smoke poured through the middle floors of the 102-story building, and the entire tower was cleared of tourists and late-lingering office workers.

The fire was reported at 6:30 p.m., and by 8:45 p.m., the blaze was out and the danger passed. The cause of the blaze wasn't immediately known.

- Associated Press 


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