Bedford-Stuyvesant woke up to a very different kind of morning haze on Thursday, as smoke poured out of a string of manholes and utility equipment burned beneath the streets. Thick gray plumes rose from open covers, and early risers reported hearing loud bangs as the neighborhood was already sweating through a stretch of hot weather.
Crews rushed to the scene
Fire units and utility crews converged on the Fulton Street corridor after calls about smoking manholes, with firefighters checking nearby buildings for hazards and neighbors evacuated from a handful of apartments. The FDNY reported no injuries. Crews secured the area while Con Edison technicians were dispatched to make repairs, according to News 12 Brooklyn.
Utility: heat is straining the grid
In a press release via Con Edison, the utility warned that "extreme heat and humidity drive up air-conditioning use, increasing demand on the electric system and the potential for scattered outages" and said crews had been mobilized ahead of the weekend to respond. The company urged customers to check its outage map for restoration estimates and offered tips to conserve energy while temperatures stay high.
Outages and neighborhood reaction
About 50 Con Edison customers were listed as without service on the outage map during the initial response, and neighbors posted videos to the Citizen app showing smoke and flames rising from multiple manholes, as visible on the Con Edison outage map. Residents told reporters they were left sweating in their apartments while crews worked into the afternoon to replace damaged cable and restore service.
How to stay safe
If you see a smoking or sparking manhole, move well away and call 911 so firefighters can respond. Do not touch manhole covers or downed wires. Customers with outages can report them to Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED, and those who rely on electrically powered medical equipment should seek immediate assistance or head to a cooling center if power is lost.
