By Ben Fractenberg and Mariel S. Clark
DNAinfo Staff
EAST HARLEM — A transformer fire broke out in East Harlem Thursday, forcing administrators at the Metropolitan Hospital Center to run some wings on backup generators, the FDNY said.
Witnesses heard electrical "popping" noises and saw smoke coming from the ground as firefighters responded to 1901 First Avenue, just in front of the hospital, shortly after 9:43 a.m.
Some of the lights at the hospital were out and nine of the 13 elevators weren't working after the emergency power kicked in, said FDNY battalion chief John Donnelly.
He added that the hospital had enough fuel to run the generator for 24 hours.
Firefighters closed down First Avenue from 96th to 99th Street as they sprayed foam onto the blaze.
There were no injuries and no one was evacuated from the hospital or the area, the FDNY said.
Thursday afternoon, Con Edison installed an additional generator to assist the hospital's power supply, but did not know when power would be fully restored, a spokesperson said.
