Explosions rock police precinct

(Downtown Brooklyn-WABC, April 30, 2006) (WABC) -- An explosion Sunday afternoon on the roof of a Brooklyn police precinct quickly became a fire. It happened near the intersection of Gold Street and Tillary Street, at the 84th precinct in downtown Brooklyn.

Eyewitness News reporter Lucy Yang is there with the details.

Fire and police got quite a jolt when multiple explosions were heard and felt from the roof of the police precinct. There was work being done on the roof at the time. Everybody escaped without injuries, but not without lingering questions.

There were explosions flames and thick black smoke which you could see from the other boroughs. Mercifully, there were no fatalities.

Shortly before 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon a fire broke out on the roof of the 84th precinct in downtown Brooklyn. Next door is a firehouse. Despite the fire department's proximity, extinguishing the blaze was not that simple.

We're told there were five 100 pound propane tanks on the roof. Three of those tanks exploded, the other caught fire. One tank was blown across Tillary Street.

"At first there was a tremendous boom and as I ran across the street I saw pieces of the roof falling down on fire," said Jerry Marshall who witnessed the fire.

"There was a tar kettle up there. We didn't see any evidence of torches. A tar kettle is a large tank used to melt tar when they're roofing," said Deputy Assistant Fire Chief John Coloe.

Officials report the police precinct was immediately evacuated. There were no prisoners inside the police station at the time.

About 100 rescue workers responded to the two-alarm emergency and were able to get the fire under control within 30 minutes.

The investigation now begins and raises quite a few questions. 10 workers were on the roof at time. Investigators are trying to find out why they were working on a Sunday and if they were legal immigrants.

"There are a number of questions that need to be answered. I'll be calling upon Commissioner Scopetta as well as Commissioner Kelly to inquire as to the nature of their contract. Whether or not they were sub-contractors and whether or not they were in fact licensed," said City Council Member Letitia James.

The building department said the work on top of the roof being done did not require a permit. Inspectors taken a look at the precinct building and have not found any evidence of structural damage meaning that officers can begin to go back inside.

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