Corroded Underground Electrical Cables Led to Fire in New York
2/21/2018
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City fire officials say corrosion in underground electrical cables led to a chain-reaction fire that destroyed two cars near manholes.
WABC-TV reports the two cars were destroyed after an underground fire Tuesday afternoon in the Bronx. The fire set off large plumes of black smoke up 80 feet into the air.
Responding firefighters had the flames under control within minutes. Utility officials remained on the scene to return power to two nearby apartment buildings.
According to the television station, manhole fires are common this time of year. Underground wires get corroded by salt used on roads in the winter, and the corroded wires start to simmer — which produces flammable gases that can catch fire.
Related News
From Archive
Sign up to Receive Our Newsletter
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
Comments