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Firefighters sustained minor injuries battling Williamsburg restaurant blaze
By
Willow Higgins
Published Sep 20, 2026
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By
Willow Higgins
Published Sep 20, 2026
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The New York City fire department responded to a four-alarm fire on Saturday night that tore through Juliette, a popular French bistro in Williamsburg, and damaged two adjoining restaurants.
More than two hundred firefighters and EMS personnel were called to the scene at N. 5th Street and Bedford Avenue. Six firefighters sustained minor injuries, an EMS official said.
The fire was first reported at around 5:30 in the evening and everyone inside was able to exit safely. It took around three hours to get the situation under control, a fire department spokesperson said.
The restaurant, which has a plant-filled indoor garden and a roof top terrace, has been a Williamsburg staple for nearly 20 years.
French chef Thierry Rochard, who’s best known as the force behind Tartine, the West Village institution, opened Juliette in 2007 “to bring the inviting charm of a French bistro to Williamsburg,” according to the restaurant’s website. Since then, it’s remained a constant in the ever-changing neighborhood.
It is a “sweet little spot to sit, eat and people-watch, and that plate of garlicked-up little snails in front of you is just a bonus,” Gothamist wrote more than a decade ago.
As firefighters battled the blaze, there was a “smoke explosion” and part of the roof collapsed,, an official from the fire department said.
The fire filled the area with so much smoke that a passerby said “you couldn't see your hand in front of your face,” according to ABC7.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
And the restaurant’s future is uncertain. No one from Juliette could immediately be reached for comment.
As of last night, a fire department official reported that the city’s buildings department was still assessing the damages.
The Williamsburg blaze was not the only fire-related incident to happen overnight.
The popular Dragon Coaster ride at Westchester County's Playland was damaged in what local officials said was likely an electrical fire.
The nearly century-old roller coaster is a main attraction of the Rye, New York, amusement park. It reopened at the start of this season after undergoing a $1.4 million update.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said the damage was not significant and that he expected the ride to be repaired in time for next summer’s riders to enjoy.
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Willow Higgins
Willow Higgins covers changes in New York City neighborhoods for WNYC and Gothamist. She has previously reported on wrongful convictions, corruption in district attorney offices and Texas' child welfare system.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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