Fire under control at South Street Seaport - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at South Street Seaport Saturday afternoon before getting the blaze under control. 

There were no injuries reported from the blaze that created a huge cloud of smoke over the East River and could be seen from Brooklyn. 

FDNY Battalion Chief John Sarrocco said flames engulfed a 100-foot stretch of Pier 17 when the fire started around 4:00 p.m. The seaport was busy with hundred of people in the area the pier is the site of the Seaport Music Festival concerts that take place throughout the summer. 

"The number one challenge first of all was the safety of the people.  We had to because there was a ton of people on the pier," said Battalion Chief Sarrocco. "It was a beautiful day on Saturday where you have four to five hundred people on that pier, so to get them all out in a heavy smoke condition was an obstacle."  

Fire officials said firefighters used chain saws to remove planks of old timber to get to the flames. Fire marine units were also used to control the fire from the East River.  

"The pier's very thick, it's got thick, old wood – we had to cut away all the wood and get down below to use our marine units from the water to stretch lines underneath it to put the fire out," said Battalion Chief Sarrocco. 

The FDNY said about 140 firefighters responded to the scene and the U.S. Coast Guard also assisted in the response effort.

The eastern half of the pier will remain closed due to fire damage.