Fire engulfs section of popular Manhattan holiday market

NEW YORK (AP) — An outdoor holiday market in New York City’s Bryant Park briefly caught fire Friday morning, sending flames and plumes of smoke above the popular midtown Manhattan tourist draw as firefighters rushed to put out the blaze.

No one was injured in the fire, which began in a section of the market just after 9 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the city's fire department. At least four shops were burned in the blaze, which also damaged the roof of an adjacent ice skating rink, the spokesperson said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. At least some of the impacted shops were serving food.

Photos from the scene showed dozens of firefighters surrounding the torched remains of multiple wood-framed stalls.

The long-running open-air market features hundreds of food and merchandise vendors. It draws hordes of holiday tourists to the park between Times Square and Grand Central Terminal over the holiday season.

The blaze comes less than two weeks after a fire ripped through another midtown Manhattan holiday market in Herald Square, destroying eighteen stalls. Authorities said that fire was caused by an electrical issue.

In this image taken from video provided by Eugene McGuire , FDNY respond to a fire at an outdoor holiday market in Bryant Park on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in New York. (Eugene McGuire via AP)

In this image taken from video provided by Eugene McGuire , FDNY respond to a fire at an outdoor holiday market in Bryant Park on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in New York. (Eugene McGuire via AP)

This image provided by the Fire Department of New York, FDNY personnel investigates the aftermath of a fire at an outdoor holiday market in Bryant Park on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in New York. (FDNY via AP)

This image provided by the Fire Department of New York, FDNY personnel investigates the aftermath of a fire at an outdoor holiday market in Bryant Park on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in New York. (FDNY via AP)

This image provided by the Fire Department of New York, FDNY personnel investigates the aftermath of a fire at an outdoor holiday market in Bryant Park on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in New York. (FDNY via AP)

This image provided by the Fire Department of New York, FDNY personnel investigates the aftermath of a fire at an outdoor holiday market in Bryant Park on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in New York. (FDNY via AP)

MILAN (AP) — French standout Cyprien Sarrazin remained under sedation on Saturday after undergoing a successful operation on a head injury sustained in a brutal crash the previous day during training for a World Cup downhill race in Bormio.

Sarrazin, who won the downhill on Bormio’s fearsome Stelvio course last year, was one of two skiers airlifted to hospital after crashing on Friday on the slope set to be used for the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 14 months.

He later underwent surgery to drain a bleed near the brain.

“Cyprien Sarrazin was operated on yesterday night to decompress the intracranial hematoma,” the French ski federation said in a statement.

“The operation went well, he remains under anesthesia for the moment. We will communicate more information during the day.”

Sarrazin, who was fastest in the first training session the previous day, was on course for another good time in Friday’s second run when he appeared to hit a bump and lost control as he was catapulted into the air, bouncing twice on the snow and sliding a long way down before being brought to a halt by the safety netting on the side.

The 30-year-old received immediate treatment before being taken by helicopter to a hospital in Sondalo, about 20 kilometers from Bormio.

Sarrazin enjoyed his best campaign on the World Cup circuit last season with four victories — three downhill and one super-G — but has yet to win in 2024-25.

Italian skier Pietro Zazzi of Italy was also airlifted to Sondalo hospital following a crash and was set to undergo surgery in Milan on Saturday after fracturing the tibia and fibula of his right leg.

The downhill is scheduled for Saturday, with a super-G also on the Stelvio the following day.

The men’s Alpine skiing events at the 2026 Olympics will take place in Bormio, while the women’s will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The two ski areas are separated by a five-hour car ride.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

France's Cyprien Sarrazin is airborn during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

France's Cyprien Sarrazin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Medical staff are carrying France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Medical staff are lifting France's Cyprien Sarrazin to an helicopter after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)