Con Edison Repairing Power Cables After Rye Manhole Fire

Con Edison is repairing power cables in Rye after a manhole fire on New Year's Eve shut off power at the CVS and post office near Boston Post Road.

The fire began around 11 a.m.  in one manhole and spread to another, according to Jane Solnick, a spokesperson for Con Edison. Solnick said a failed cable caused the fire to start underground. 

The incident was resolved within a few hours, after Rye firefighters flooded the manhole and extinguished the fire. They later pumped the water from the manhole to determine what caused the fire.

No one was injured and no property was damaged.

However, a number of local buildings lost power. In addition to CVS and the post office, the police station, Wachovia Bank and Shell gas station also were without power for a number of hours.

Solnick said the police station relies on overhead power lines, but had to use back-up generators until full power was restored at 7 p.m.  Wachovia's power was also restored at that time, while the post office and gas station had power by 9 p.m.

CVS closed and was out of power overnight.

Solnick said the store is running on temporary power until Con Edison repairs the damaged cables. The company will install new power cables, which will take one or two days, Solnick said.

"It's visible that we're still out there working," she said.

Though the fire department temporary closed streets near Purdy Avenue and Boston Post Road during the fire, there will be no road closures while Con Edison repairs the cables, Solnick said.