WOODSIDE — A large manhole fire temporarily shut down a portion of 39th Avenue and spread to two other locations, according to the FDNY, as the city continues to battle the underground explosions caused by melting snow after storms.
The fire started in front of Thailand's Center Point at 63-19 39th Ave., near 63rd Street, at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to FDNY Battalion Chief Richard Gander.
Crews left but were called back at 12:30 p.m. by Con Edison after it spread, he said.The FDNY was also monitoring two other manhole fires on 63rd Street. Con Ed crews were on scene and were preparing to shut power to the street, Gander said.
There were no evacuations or injuries reported.
Last week, 25 people were forced to leave their Astoria homes due to a manhole fire, and a man out walking his dog in Park Slope was injured when a manhole cover hit him in the head.
Con Ed responded to nearly 600 manhole fires last week, officials said. They are rampant in the winter due to the salt spread during storms leaking underground and tearing up the city's electrical system.