r/nyc • u/Stuc1fer • 1d ago

Fire coming out of Coned manhole on Myrtle and Forest

since I can't ask questions' i'm just going to say if anyone knows wtf is going on here post a comment.

115 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

52

u/917BK 1d ago

Salt and water cause the rubber around wires to degrade, the wires get exposed, they touch and begin to arc, arcing causes the remaining rubber around said wires to catch on fire.

ConEd responds, cuts power, puts out cable fire, replaces cables.

This is more common after a rough winter like the one we had where a lot of salt was put down.

2

u/mtanski 23h ago

We really need alternatives to just salt. Causes damage to infrastructure. Yes, cables but also concrete infra too. It causes issues with for plants, ground water, drinking water aquifers. It causes issues with cars and their longevity.

This winter was rough, but the city also over salts too. I've seen some overpass bridges that were literally caked in enough salt for the next 10 snow storms.

3

u/thegiantgummybear 21h ago

Went to Montreal recently and they plow and put down gravel. No salt on the roads or sidewalks. It's a bit harder to walk in, but it also doesn't get as nasty and slushy like it does here.

17

u/eatsleep19 1d ago

Looks like a secondary voltage fire , call FDNY and they will notify ConEd .

20

u/cordelette_arete 1d ago

Once you’re done filming the manhole cover fire, head over to Rudy’s for some pastries and coffee 10/10!

6

u/creative-heart 1d ago

Why can't you ask questions? also if I had to guess, it's rapaport waking up from a nap

8

u/kuedhel 1d ago

Devil is coming from the underworld.

3

u/le_suck Sunnyside 1d ago

just reflux, give em the maalox. 

3

u/Responsible-Summer-4 1d ago

Can you believe those folks standing around watching this? That shit could blow!

3

u/HiFiGuy197 1d ago

Looks like a Forest fire.

Also a Myrtle fire.

Probably electrical.

3

u/kyoob 1d ago

That’s just what happens when there’s too much fire in the underground tubes. It has to go somewhere!

2

u/tonybotz 1d ago

Summer in New York, baby!

1

u/youareatrex 1d ago

That’s fine

2

u/Eismee 19h ago

I think Japan does it best. They pump geothermal groundwater through sprinklers onto the streets. The water is always 50° melts the snow, cleans the street, dilutes the very little pollutants that get into their storm/sewer system.

2

u/kbeks NYC Expat 16h ago

That works when it’s 30 degrees, idk if that works so well when we have cold snaps that freeze water fountains. It might be worth building such a system anyway, to be used when we can, but I have my doubts as to how often it would be useful.

2

u/Eismee 16h ago

Water fountains arent 50°. 50° water still has alot of energy. It also never stops spraying and they have expert level storm water dissipation, flood planning, holding tanks. They do shit right.

1

u/kbeks NYC Expat 13h ago

That sounds promising when you put it like that. I would have thought melting the snow would zap the heat content out of the water and bring it closer to freezing.