Gas Explosion In Equinox Gym, Manhattan: Broadway Closed, Multiple Buildings Evacuated

Update: 11 p.m. EST - The gas explosion inside the Equinox Gym in Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, shattered the windows of the fitness club.

“The fire came out in front of the building and blew out all the windows in the Equinox building. No one was injured due to us recognizing the potential and evacuating all the people from the buildings,” said Fire Department of New York Assistant Chief John Hodgens.

The blast occurred when firefighters were setting up a perimeter around the area where the fire broke out, in order to keep civilians away from harm’s way.

“People saw the front door to the gym fly open and the windows were all shattered. There was an orange flash, but then it was gone,” a doorman who works across the street, whose name was not revealed, told New York Daily News.

“I came out and it seemed smoky everywhere,” the doorman said. “There was debris in the air, it was all dusty. But then it cleared out quickly so no one knew what happened.”

Original story:

A gas line exploded inside Equinox gym on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, on Sunday, bringing traffic to a standstill on Broadway.

“ROAD CLOSURES: Broadway, between West 90 St & West 92 St on the #UpperWestSide of #Manhattan is closed due to @FDNY activity. Expect emergency vehicles and heavy traffic in the area,” the New York Police Department (NYPD) tweeted shortly after the incident.

According to authorities, the gym – located between in the basement of Equinox on 2465 Broadway between 91st and 92nd streets – as well as four commercial buildings in the vicinity were evacuated without incident and no one was reportedly injured. Around 90 people were affected by the explosion, ABC7 reported.

The explosion was caused by a fire, which broke out just after 3:30 p.m. EST in a Con Edison transformer in the street. As a result of the fire, a small blaze ignited near one of the gas pipes in the gym at 6:40 p.m. EST, causing the explosion. The fire spread up to the street level.

The firefighters considered the area of explosion an “active scene” at least till 7:30 p.m. EST. High levels of carbon dioxide were detected in the building where the explosion took place.

Equinox sent a message to all its members informing them of the explosion and telling them that the club will remain closed until further notice.

“Nestled in the heart of the Upper East Side’s most vibrant district, our newest New York City location is an urban oasis in an ultra-modern building designed by Handel Architects. A dedicated functional training floor, state-of-the-art Group Fitness studios and a grand hall built for staying social, make up your new haven away from home on the east side. If you’re looking for barre or yoga on the Upper East Side, Equinox provides members with sublime studios,” its website boasts.