Person Injured In Upper East Side Manhole Fire: FDNY

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A Lenox Hill manhole fire left a person on the street hospitalized Wednesday afternoon, according to fire officials.

At about 1:45 p.m., firefighters responded to a call reporting a manhole fire at East 62nd Street and York Avenue, officials said.

One person injured at the scene was brought to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, according to the FDNY, but there were no details on the victim's condition.

Fire officials said that Con-Ed was notified of the fire.

From 2020 to 2021, emergency manhole incidents, or "non-structural fires," increased by 31%, according to reporting by THE CITY. The fires — and sometimes explosions — often lead to property damage and injuries.

Data also showed that most fires occur in winter months, when corrosive road salt deteriorates underground electrical equipment, THE CITY reports, especially older wiring.