Manhole explosions aren’t just spectacular; they’re dangerous. As one firefighter observed after a manhole exploded near Times Square in May: “It’s not Disneyland, people. Get the hell out of the way.”
Ever since Thomas Edison fired up the city’s commercial electric grid in 1882, New Yorkers have had to contend with the random hazards of smoking, flaming and exploding manholes. Many of the blasts result from decrepit wiring, which can lead to sparks. Throw in a bit of gas and a confined space and, like a combustion engine, the blast can move metal.
Yesterday, it hit 103 degrees in NYC. It was so hot out that the man holes were catching fire!! You would think that it would stay cooler under ground. But not in NYC. I stepped out of the office to grab some lunch and it felt like someone has a hair dryer 2 inches away from my face! The worst part is that its going to be extremely hot again today!
