Fire breaks out on New York's Brooklyn Bridge during US Independence Day fireworks display

Authorities not yet announced the extent of the damage to the bridge; no injuries reported

A fire broke out on New York City's Brooklyn Bridge during the Macy’s US Independence Day celebration fireworks display on Saturday night, with no injuries immediately reported.

Flames and smoke rose from sections of the iconic bridge as fireworks were launched from the span over the East River, according to videos posted on social media.

Authorities had not announced the extent of the damage to the bridge.

The incident occurred during Macy’s annual Independence Day fireworks show as the US marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

According to Associated Press (AP), two fire engines were used to put out the blaze, the city’s fire department said. Firefighters were seen dousing the flames shortly before 10pm on the bridge, which had been closed to traffic during the show.

A department spokesperson said such fires are not unexpected and are why officials keep crowds at a distance during fireworks, AP reported.

The show was moved up early because of the threat of severe weather that canceled and delayed other celebrations along the East Coast. That includes Washington, where a storm prompted an evacuation of crowdgoers on the National Mall.

Hot weather, severe thunderstorms

Extremely hot weather and severe thunderstorms disrupted the US Independence Day celebrations on Saturday, with officials reporting that the number of deaths from the heat wave has increased to 25.

Nearly 156 million people across the eastern two-thirds of the country remained under heat alerts issued by the National Weather Service as a high-pressure heat dome pushed temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) in several locations, including Washington, DC, Norfolk, Virginia, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

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In Washington, DC, emergency workers and members of the National Guard treated attendees for heat-related illnesses during the Salute to America 250 celebrations on the National Mall, marking the 250th anniversary of its founding.

Festivities at the National Mall were temporarily halted after the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency urged attendees to seek shelter because of a severe thunderstorm moving through the area.

More than 72 million people were also under severe thunderstorm watches on Saturday, with forecasters warning of wind gusts exceeding 105 kph (65 mph) and hail up to the size of quarters. Damaging winds were reported in parts of Nebraska and Iowa.

The National Weather Service said cooler air moving south from Canada is expected to push the heat dome south and west in the coming days, easing extreme temperatures in the Northeast, although dangerous overnight heat and high humidity are expected to persist.

In New Jersey, the number of suspected heat-related deaths increased from 19 to 22, according to the state Health Department. Most of the victims were between their 30s and 80s, with fatalities reported across 10 counties, primarily in the central and northern parts of the state.

State Health Commissioner Raynard Washington said many of the victims were found inside homes without air conditioning, while others were discovered outdoors or inside parked vehicles.

Washington said state authorities were sending cooling equipment and generators to healthcare facilities experiencing strain and, in some cases, evacuating patients where necessary.