Escalator Fire At Macy's Forces Shoppers Into The Cold

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Twas the Sunday before Christmas, when all through Macy's Herald Square, not a shopper wasn't buying, but then there came a scare. Up on the third floor there arose such a clatter, that it was obvious something was seriously the matter. When, what to their wondering eyes should appear, but an escalator on fire and no help near.

Now, NYPD! Now, Fire Department! Now, ambulances! To the site of the flames, to the neighbor of Manhattan Mall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!

So up to the trouble the firemen flew, and they declared it a two-alarm, what with so many shoppers running around without a clue. They put out the fire and no injuries were reported, but the event had shoppers twittering like it was something important. The tourists' Sunday night was ruined and the lost sales were many, but Merry Christmas to all anyways; they probably went straight to JC Penney.

Did you get that? A two-alarm fire broke out on the escalators at Macy's last night. It wasn't a big deal; it was only a two-alarm because of the crowding of the store. The firemen quickly had it out.
· Shoppers evacuated during fire at Macy's [Gothamist]