The City of New York Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in Manhattan at around ten in the morning on May 5.

According to officials, lighting and electrical equipment were involved in the incident, which started in an electrical room between the fourth and fifth floors. Firefighters entered the structure, carried out searches, and vigorously battled the fire before finding more fire extension in hidden areas between the fifth floor and the top, according to Assistant Chief David Simms.

The theater's catwalks and rigging systems produced challenging access conditions that exacerbated the catastrophe. Along with more water damage in other areas of the structure, officials reported significant damage to the electrical room.

One firefighter was sent to a nearby hospital after suffering minor injuries. The source of the fire is still being looked into, however every theater employee was found.