Car Catches Fire After Manhole Burns on 45th St and 17th Ave

By Y.M. Lowy

A manhole caught fire on 17th Avenue and 45th Street, setting a parked car on fire and knocking out power in the area.

Firefighters got to the scene quickly and put out the flames. They also made sure the area was safe for the Con Edison crews to fix the damage and bring power back.

Just minutes later, a second manhole at the same intersection began emitting heavy smoke, raising further concerns. To prevent additional damage, parked cars near the smoking manhole are being towed from the area.

These kinds of manhole fires can happen because of problems with underground cables, especially after rain or in hot weather.