MIDTOWN — A manhole fire briefly brought Seventh Avenue traffic to a halt Thursday morning, as fire engines and Con Edison trucks responded to the underground blaze.
The fire started at 49th Street and Seventh Avenue about 10:30 a.m. and drew six units of firefighters who doused the flames as tourists stopped to take pictures of the action.
Con Ed workers shoveled snow from Wednesday's storm into the manhole to help cool the fire.
Service to the N/Q/R subway station at 49th Street was not affected. One of the station's exits was roped off to keep commuters from walking out into the smoke, an MTA worker said.
Police officers temporarily roped off 49th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues.
There were no reported injuries, an FDNY spokesman said.