Gurlging sound and then flames shot out of Central Ave
From the scene: there were gurgling noises and then flames shot out of the hole.
Updated at 4:44 pm
A fault in an electrical cable underneath Central Ave in Albany on the block between Lake and Quail caused an underground fire today. There was smoke coming out of a hole in the street. There were also periodic gurgling noises and then flames shot 3-4 feet out of the hole (that was around noon). The fire is now out, according to National Grid.
Crews from the fire department and National Grid are on the scene. We were told the smoking hole was a manhole -- and the cover reportedly blew off the hole.
Via an email from National Grid spokesperson Patrick Stella at 1:22 pm:
National Grid is currently working at the 300 block of Central Ave. to repair a secondary cable fault underground. The fault did cause a fire underground earlier today (between 11 a.m. and noon). The fire has been extinguished and crews will be working on repairs this afternoon.
In order to complete repairs, we may have to temporarily cut power along the block, but the extent and duration of that possibility has not yet been determined.
Stella says National Grid doesn't know the cause of the cable fault. He says they'll investigate the cause after repairs are made and the debris is cleaned out of the manhole. Until the cause is known, he says it's impossible to compare/contrast this incident with the March 2009 incident (which included exploding manhole covers) in downtown Albany. He says about 12 customers are without power.
Central Ave was blocked from Lake to Quail for a few hours. It's now open again. The site is in front of the I Love NY pizza shop next to Richters. That's the same block as Van's, CCK and Salsa Latina.
The first report we saw of the fire came from @MickMartin1:
Our block is barricaded because of an underground fire. Yellow smoke. If I ever have a chance to get superpowers it's now
WAMC's Sarah LaDuke -- the station's on the other side of the street, up Central -- then posted a photo from the scene. You can see flames in the photo.
More photos from the scene after the jump. At times, the smoke had a yellow or green cast.
Crews working working on the problem from another hole down the street:
Fire crews cutting into the sidewalk in front of Richter's:
And video shot by @MickMartin1:
Back in 2009... Something roughly similar happened in downtown Albany in March 2009.
Find It
underground fire on Central Ave in Albany
309 Central Ave
Albany, NY 12206
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Comments
Just a few Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, guys. Moving on.
... said -S on Dec 6, 2010 at 12:25 PM | link
We had dinner at Salsa Latina on Friday evening and sat in the front of the restaurant, right side. There was an awful smell the whole time. It was almost like the smell sterno makes, but could have been melting electrical wire insulation. Gave me an awful headache. I said to my husband "gee, I hope this place doesn't explode" and now there's this fire right near it. Scary!
... said Amy on Dec 6, 2010 at 1:28 PM | link
Oh man. That's one of Albany's best food blocks! Hopefully my Pho supply will not be affected...
... said Erik on Dec 6, 2010 at 1:36 PM | link
@s
lol. CHUDS. Awesome.
... said daleyplanit on Dec 6, 2010 at 1:54 PM | link
TMNT just whooped Shredder. Big explosion. Cut to commercials.
... said MickeyG on Dec 6, 2010 at 3:58 PM | link
We were wondering what the heck was going on - we wanted to go to Van's for lunch and our PHO plans were totally foiled.
... said xina on Dec 6, 2010 at 5:01 PM | link