Early this morning eight-year Iraq vet Nigel Edinborough moved his 2002 Ford Escape to a new spot on Empire Boulevard in Crown Heights and headed home. And only moments after he walked away the manhole beneath the car went KA-BOOM. By the time he returned to his vehicle it was a smoldering, burned out mess. "It was like back in Iraq," the vet told the Post. Yes, we're in the middle of exploding manhole season, but that doesn't make stories about them any less jaring. more ›

According to Consolidated Edison, there have been 19 manhole fires and explosions since New Year's Day, making this winter the official exploding manhole season in the city. ConEd spokesman Chris Olert told City Room that salt laid on streets corrodes cables, which can either catch fire or release gas that builds up and sends manhole covers flying. Fortunately they've made efforts to better ventilate the manhole covers. But what can explain all those manhole explosions in April and May? Umm, ghosts? more ›

We know the world is supposed to end in 2012 or whatever, but the city seems to be getting a jump start on the mass destruction. On New Year's day one man was witness to a "15' tower of flames" erupting from a manhole (video below) on Bleecker Street and Leroy Street. Thankfully instead of running for his life, he had the presence of mind to film the event for the benefit of the Internet: more ›

The Fire Department is responding to multiple manhole fires on East 7th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. We hear that two buildings (with 18 civilians) were evacuated and Con Ed is also on the scene. more ›

There's yet another manhole fire situation in downtown Brooklyn. According to Notify NYC (whose website is portentously down at the moment), emergency personnel are on the scene of a manhole fire at 55 Willoughby Street. "The FDNY has evacuated the surrounding buildings." More information as it comes, but you know the drill, there's probably a lot of carbon monoxide soiling the air and a bunch of guys standing around in reflective vests shooting the shit. Oh look, there they are: more ›

A spokesman for Con Ed says that yesterday's manhole explosion and fire—which reportedly shot flames three stories into the air on West 40th Street—was caused by a burnout on secondary cables that carry 13,000 volts of electricity. The fire started around 1:40 p.m., prompting the evacuation of roughly 300 people from nearby buildings and concern about carbon monoxide levels in one nearby building. Coming on the heels of the failed Times Square car bombing, some people in the area are on edge. more ›

Yesterday afternoon, a fire from a West 52nd Street manhole forced the evacuation of four buildings and shut down streets, because of extremely high carbon monoxide levels. In fact, one Broadway show—Jersey Boys, at the August Wilson Theatre—was cancelled. This morning, Broadway between 51st and 53rd Streets re-opened, but West 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue is still closed as officials continue to investigate the fire. more ›

Firefighters and Con Ed are dealing with a third alarm manhole fire near 226 West 52nd Street. WCBS 2 reports, "It's believed a second transformer may have blown at 1697 Broadway, near the Ed Sullivan Theater. Flames could be seen shooting from the manhole and bits of the street were blown out from the blaze. Witnesses reported hearing a loud 'pops' from potential explosions in the manhole." more ›

About an hour ago there was what the MTA was describing as a "subway smoke condition" near West 53rd Street and 7th Avenue. We just received some photos of a manhole fire at that intersection, and NotifyNYC is now alerting straphangers that "the F and V trains are suspended in Manhattan. B and D trains are diverted onto the A line between West 57th Street and West 4th Street." NY1 adds that there has been a "forced evacuation" but no injuries have been reported yet. more ›

Given that there are manhole fires from time to time—and that many times steam can be seen rising from them—it's no surprise to learn they can leave burns. And now a Bronx woman is suing Con Ed for burns she suffered in 2006. According to the Daily News, "Melissa Mann was crossing Allen St. on the lower East Side on Sept. 5, 2006, when she was hit by a delivery van...She flew through the air and landed on a manhole cover, which burned her instantly, according to a lawsuit filed in Bronx Supreme Court this week." Yikes. Her lawyer said his client has permanent scarring, not to mention seizures, and walks with a cane, "For the temperature of that cap to be so hot that it caused scalding burns to the touch is not right. It poses a danger to citizens walking on the street not to mention any animals walking on the street." Mann is seeking "an award for medical services, lost wages and pain and suffering." Five years ago, a woman got a "manhole tattoo" on her back when she fell (while skateboarding in the East Village) on a manhole. more ›

Aw: WCBS 2 reports that a family pit bull-shepherd mix named Ace saved them and their neighbors when his barking alerted them to a manhole fire. His owner Khaliq Sharif said, "I was asleep. He wouldn't stop barking. I usually know it's nothing serious when he barks, but this time he wouldn't stop." In the end, eight families—23 adults and four children—went outside to safety as the fire department responded to the fire on Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn. And the salt, from the snow, triggered the fire; Battalion Chief Gene Marmann explained, "What happens is the snow starts to melt and that along with the salts that are put down by the Department of Sanitation attacks the wires and sets them on fire." Hooray for Ace! more ›

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 ›

Yesterday, hundreds gathered at a church in Whitestone, Queens to say good-bye to George Dillman, the 26-year-old Con Ed worker who was killed on the job last week. Dillman had been splicing cables in a manhole in Brooklyn and was trapped when an explosion occurred. Newsday reports that Dillman was "dressed in denim bearing the utility logo" that he "proudly wore." His fiancee (who he planned to marry next year), sisters, and the Hicksville fire chief (Dillman was a volunteer) all gave eulogies in the packed church where he was baptized, had his first communion, and was confirmed. A former teacher said, "He always worked, he always tried." more ›

Yesterday, a routine Con Ed visit to a manhole at Euclid and Sutter Avenues in Brooklyn turned deadly when an explosion occurred with one worker trapped inside. George Dillman, 26, was killed as he was splicing cables. more ›

Yesterday afternoon, a few manhole fires caused a load of problems for Brooklyn residents in the middle of a sweltering weekend. more ›

A noontime manhole fire has helped knock out some PATH train service tonight. WNBC reports the Christopher Street station was filled with smoke and evacuated, and the "fire damaged signals and power cables." Path service between 33rd Street and the Journal Square and Hoboken stations is suspended in both directions this evening and it's unclear if it'll be back up for tomorrow. more ›

At least a few buildings on or near Mercer Street lost power when a fire or an explosion occurred in a manhole at Mercer and West 3rd Street exploded this morning. The block was closed off by the Fire Department. We hear there were no injuries, but it's unclear what caused the fire. One witness saw a billowing black smoke and said it smelled "acrid, like maybe it's an electrical fire." And contributor Gideon... more ›