QUEENS — Hundreds of people were forced out of their Astoria homes Thursday afternoon as a natural gas fire burned beneath 36th Street, according to the FDNY and Con Edison.
The blaze started at about 2:45 p.m. below 36th Street between 23rd and 24th avenues, with some smoke or fire reaching above ground and setting garbage on fire along the street, a fire department spokesman said.
About 200 people from 50 homes on the block were evacuated as a precaution, according to the FDNY.
Gas was shut off to five buildings on the block, a Con Ed spokesman said. The utility company was trying to shut off gas for the entire street at about 4:30 p.m.
A few minutes later, the fire was placed under control. There were no reported injuries.
It was not immediately clear when people would be able to return to their homes.
