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Vehicle fire on RFK Bridge causes major delays during Friday morning commute

Citizen video captured flames and thick smoke coming from the vehicle as traffic backed up across the bridge.

Sheyla Torres

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Aug 7, 2026, 9:53 AM

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A vehicle fire on the RFK Bridge caused major traffic delays Friday morning after officials temporarily closed all Manhattan- and Bronx-bound lanes during the height of the morning rush.

According to the FDNY, crews received a call reporting a vehicle fire at 8:13 a.m. No injuries were reported. The incident was brought under control and officially closed at 9:18 a.m.

At 8:42 a.m., New York City Emergency Management issued an alert announcing that all Manhattan- and Bronx-bound lanes of the RFK Bridge were closed because of the fire. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes and allow for additional travel time.

Citizen video captured flames and thick smoke coming from the vehicle as traffic backed up across the bridge. The closure created significant delays for commuters traveling between Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens during the busy morning commute.

At 9:25 a.m., New York City Emergency Management announced that all lanes of the RFK Bridge had reopened but warned drivers to expect residual delays as traffic gradually returned to normal.

While the fire was extinguished and the vehicle removed, some backups lingered into the late morning as traffic continued to recover. No injuries were reported.

At this time, it is unclear if there are any injuries or what led to the fire.

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