Gas Main Explodes In Harlem, Prompting Major Emergency Response

HARLEM, NY — An underground gas main caught fire in Harlem Friday afternoon, sending flames shooting out of manholes and prompting a major emergency response.

Crews from Con Edison were responding to a reported gas leak on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard near West 114th Street shortly before 1:30 p.m. Friday when the underground main exploded while workers were excavating it, a Con Edison spokesperson said.

The FDNY evacuated residents from two buildings: 1867 and 1871 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard, Con Edison said.

Workers were trying to shut down the main, an FDNY spokesperson said. But by 4:23 p.m., neighbor Kiara Wade told Patch that the fire had only gotten bigger — and had an eerie green tinge.

"So that’s comforting," she said.

The fire was finally extinguished shortly before 5:30 p.m.

For today’s installment of What Is New York, I give you a ConEdison street fire outside of my window in Harlem pic.twitter.com/8SCmlbZUml
— Kiara Wade (@KiaraAWade) February 5, 2021

Neighbors were advised to expect traffic delays, road closures and "a heavy presence of emergency personnel" in the area, according to a city alert sent shortly after 5 p.m.

No injuries or outages were reported, the FDNY said.

The emergency response forced M102 bus service to be rerouted along Frederick Douglass Boulevard, the MTA said.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.