Two manhole explosions in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighbourhood sent flames shooting into the street, forcing pedestrians to run for cover. The first incident occurred on Central Avenue near Myrtle Avenue at around 5:30pm on Thursday, when a column of bright orange flames erupted from a manhole. A video shared on the Citizen app showed a firefighter moving a barrier nearby as the blast happened.
The New York City Fire Department was already on site investigating reports of elevated carbon monoxide levels. Con Edison, the city's energy supplier, also responded. About two hours later, a second manhole less than a mile away ignited at Lewis Avenue and Pulaski Street, with flames spreading across the road and threatening nearby businesses and vehicles.
Approximately 60 firefighters and first responders attended the second blaze, extinguishing it before any injuries or property damage occurred. The incidents follow a similar manhole fire a week earlier on Remsen Avenue in Brooklyn's East Flatbush, which knocked out power to five buildings and caused a small gas leak, leading to evacuations. Con Edison attributed that fire to an electrical fault.
New York City has around 350,000 manholes covering underground cables and gas lines. These cables are prone to overheating during summer due to increased air conditioner use, which can trigger explosions. The latest blazes come three months after a series of non-fiery manhole explosions in Poughkeepsie narrowly missed a grandmother and her two grandchildren.
