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[UPDATE] Fire, Possible Explosion at Con Edison Plant On Avenue D
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 2, 2011
Modified Mar 2, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 2, 2011
Modified Mar 2, 2011
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[UPDATE BELOW]
We're getting reports over the wires that there's a major fire, possibly caused by an explosion, at the Con Edison plant on East 14th St in Manhattan on the East River. According to one report, all hands have been called "for fire in a pothead on top of a transformer. FD units are awaiting a Con-Ed white helmet to respond. Site fire suppression system has been activated. PD Highway reporting heavy smoke condition affecting the FDR Drive."
There's reportedly a heavy volume of smoke, and a "foam unit" and a "Purple K unit" have been called to the scene. We'll update as details emerge, but we suppose this is what happens when a pothead messes with a transformer.
**Update 3:05 p.m.:**Con Edison spokesman Allan Drury tells us, "There is a fire at the substation at E. 13th Street and Avenue D. The cause is under investigation. It caused a momentary dip in voltage, but no outages. Con Edison and the FDNY are responding." And the FDNY says, "We have an ongoing all-hands fire at 800 East 14 Street and Ave D. It is a 6 story, 120x100 structure. No injuries at this time. 60 firefighters from 12 units are on scene."
Witness Daniel Francis tells Fox 5 "there was a huge explosion," and traffic is reportedly slowed on the FDR due to all the smoke. And for those keeping score at home, in 2002, there was a fire at this plant and 63,000 customers were without electricity for 7 hours.
Tagged
con ed
con edison
east village
fire
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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