There were multiple manhole fires around the city, thanks to the mix of snow (from Mother Nature), salt (to melt the snow), and cables (underground). WCBS 2 reports "hundreds were forced out into the cold" yesterday, and FDNY Battalion Chief Kevin Loughran said, "How did the fire start in the manhole? Probably arcing from the salt and the wet wire. The insulation probably wore off." One of the fires was at the Upper West Side youth hostel at 104th & Amsterdam. Over 200 tourists had to evacuate, though they were able to board buses and drink hot cocoa, according to the Post. The fire was put out, but one Australian tourist was slightly disappointed, "I didn't have any burly firemen rescue me. I feel left out." more ›

Two companies are vying to be chosen to lay an electricity transmission cable from New Jersey to Manhattan and ultimately, both may wind up doing the job to feed the city's need for juice. The deadline is 2010, when the Charles Poletti Power Project in Astoria, Queens is scheduled to shut down. According to The New York Times, the EPA has identified that plant as the third-largest source of toxic pollutants in the city. Two... more ›