Flagship Macy’s reopens after fire

NEW YORK – Hundreds of holiday shoppers were evacuated from the flagship Macy’s store at Herald Square on Sunday after a fire in an escalator spread smoke through the building.

The fire occurred in an escalator between the third and fourth floors, said Elina Kazan, a Macy’s spokeswoman. The sirens of numerous police and firetrucks on 34th Street blared long after the fire was reported at 4 p.m. on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

One Macy’s employee was concerned about asthma but declined to go to the hospital and was back at work when the store reopened, Kazan said. No other injuries were reported.

Outside the building, a police officer announced to prospective customers after 5 p.m. that Macy’s had closed. It reopened within an hour and will remain open until midnight, Kazan said. When it reopens at 7 a.m. today, it will remain open 24 hours a day until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, she added.