A major fire tore through Juliette, a long-running restaurant on North 5th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, during the Saturday dinner rush, sending flames and a cloud of smoke into the neighborhood and injuring at least six firefighters, authorities said.
Rapid spread, large response
The blaze erupted just before 5:30 p.m. on a busy Saturday evening, according to the Fire Department of New York. Within minutes, more than a hundred firefighters converged on the block between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street to fight the inferno.
FDNY Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons described a volatile scene that included structural instability. “We had a localized collapse on the roof at one point. Members had to withdraw and then go back in,” she said.
“I saw a big cloud of fire basically burst out of Juliette, the restaurant Juliette, and glass shattered,”
The account came from a nearby resident, Justin Varga, who witnessed a later, powerful smoke explosion reported by the FDNY about a half-hour after the initial fire started.
Injuries and evacuations
No customers or staff inside the restaurant were reported injured. Fire officials said six firefighters sustained minor injuries during the operation. Four were treated at hospitals; one firefighter declined transport and another refused medical attention at the scene.
Flames were placed under control just before 8:30 p.m., roughly three hours after the fire began. At the time of the update, the FDNY had not determined the cause of the blaze nor released a full assessment of the structural damage.
Community reaction
Juliette has operated in Williamsburg for about 20 years and is considered a neighborhood fixture. Local residents expressed shock and sadness at the loss and the scene’s intensity.
“It’s really sad, you know, I mean, you know, I think a lot of people in this neighborhood love Juliette’s,” said neighborhood resident Nashemia B., reflecting the sentiment of many long-time patrons who saw the building shrouded in smoke and firefighters at work.
Timeline of key events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Just before 5:30 p.m. | Fire reported at Juliette, North 5th Street, Williamsburg |
| ~5:30–6:00 p.m. | More than 100 FDNY personnel arrive; roof collapse reported |
| ~6:00 p.m. | Smoke explosion observed by witnesses and FDNY |
| Just before 8:30 p.m. | Flames declared under control; investigation ongoing |
What we know and what remains unknown
Known facts from the FDNY and witnesses include the fire’s start time, the heavy firefighting response, the roof’s partial collapse that forced crews to briefly withdraw, the subsequent smoke explosion, and that six firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Officials have not yet released an official cause for the blaze, an estimate of the damage to the building, or a timeline for when investigators will complete their work. The Department of Buildings and the FDNY typically coordinate on post-fire inspections; those agencies had not released findings as of the latest update.
Neighborhood safety and next steps
Residents and business owners in the area can expect continued FDNY and city agency presence while investigators and inspectors complete their work. Anyone with information about the fire or video of the incident is often asked to share it with investigators to help determine the cause. At this stage, city officials have not issued notices regarding displacement or nearby building closures.
- Time of fire: Just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday
- Firefighters injured: Six, with four taken to hospitals
- Flames controlled: Just before 8:30 p.m.
- Cause: Under investigation
The loss of Juliette would mark the disappearance of a two-decade dining spot in a rapidly changing Williamsburg. City officials and the FDNY will provide additional updates as investigators conclude their review and document the damage.
