Massive Park Slope Manhole Explosion Spurs Evacuations, Street Closure

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — At least two manholes erupted in Park Slope Friday morning, sending black smoke in to the air, forcing locals from their homes and shutting down traffic for several hours, according to the FDNY and local residents.

Large manholes sent clouds of black smoke spiraling into the sky near Fourth Avenue and Seventh Street Friday morning about 9:35 a.m., according to the FDNY and Citizen App images.

A local resident told Patch she saw lights flicker in her apartment, heard two large explosions and then the sounds of firefighters pounding on her front door, demanding she and her neighbors evacuate.

"I think I was in shock," the neighbor said, noting that she was still in her pajamas when the FDNY began evacuating her building. "I asked [a firefighter] if the building was going to explode and he said 'I'd hope not.'"

About two dozen firefighters remained at the intersection at about noon and could be seen measuring air quality levels at nearby buildings as the smell of smoke lingered in the air.

The local, who said she was unable to return to her building as of about 12:30 p.m. because of CO2 readings, said the area, "smells like poison."

Lanes remained blocked to southbound traffic between Sixth and Seventh streets as of 12:10 p.m.

A worker at the Brooklyn Convenience on Fourth Ave and Sixth Street also heard an explosion but said he did not, and would not, leave the store.

"I'm going to stay here, it's business," the worker told Patch. "There's war going on, it's normal to me. "

Consolidated Edison crews arrived at the intersection to deal with a manhole problem that saw at least two households lose power, according to its outage map.

Manholes are more likely to occur in cold and wet conditions and can send toxic fumes spiraling into the air, according to an FDNY safety release.

"It's just really the most scary and jarring thing," the local told Patch. "I hope no one got hurt."