By Phil Corso
A manhole fire early Friday morning led to the evacuation of three buildings on 102nd Street in Corona because of concerns over carbon monoxide, fire officials said.
Consolidated Edison and the FDNY were on the scene Friday morning tending to the manhole, which 52nd Battalion Chief Gene Marmann said might have caught fire due to aging electrical wires.
No injuries were reported.
According to Marmann, the manhole in front of a house at 33-26 102nd St. erupted in flames around 3 a.m. Friday morning because of old wiring, resulting in carbon monoxide emissions coming from underground. Firefighters were checking CO levels in surrounding buildings and Con Ed workers were on the scene throughout the morning.
The fire was originally reported around 3 a.m. Friday, Marmann said, and was extinguished soon after. He said the Fire Department received another call around 8:30 a.m. reporting a high level of carbon monoxide in the buildings. Residents of the buildings were evacuated around 8 a.m. Friday, but were permitted back inside by 9 a.m., officials said.
Con Ed workers were trying to flood the hole with water to extinguish any remaining smoke emanating from the wires.
Fire officials declared the surrounding buildings safe by 9:30 a.m. Friday morning.Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
