Salt sparks Bronx manhole fires, forces evacuations

Manhole fires sparked by salt erupted throughout the Bronx Wednesday, forcing evacuations at one building. Flames and smoke shot out of a manhole on Randall Avenue. Two other manhole fires occurred on

News 12 Staff

Feb 21, 2007, 6:46 PM

Updated 6,436 days ago

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Manhole fires sparked by salt erupted throughout the Bronx Wednesday, forcing evacuations at one building.
Flames and smoke shot out of a manhole on Randall Avenue. Two other manhole fires occurred on E. Tremont Avenue and E. 212th Street at Dekalb Avenue. The last fire forced the evacuation of a nearby building after tenants noticed their lights were flickering. Con Edison crews thought carbon monoxide was present, but later discovered the air was safe.
Con Edison blames salt used to melt snow and ice for the wire shorts. The company says the salt eats away at underground cables.