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Exploding manholes

By adamg - 4/2/17 - 12:18 pm

Shortly before 11 a.m., in the area of Cambridge and New Sudbury streets. WCVB reports several manhole explosions.

Ted Folkman reports:

Just saw a manhole cover explode right outside the JFK building, and loud boom. Smoke billowing out!

Video from WHDH.

By adamg - 12/18/16 - 5:21 pm

WBZ reports the Malden Fire Department is investigating what made at least four manholes explode today.

By adamg - 7/3/16 - 4:16 pm

Firefighters are at Summer and High streets for a manhole that belched fire and smoke.

By adamg - 7/2/16 - 7:31 pm

A manhole that burst into flames around 4 p.m. in Cleary Square knocked out power up down River Street and Fairmount Avenue. Eversource estimates the power will be back by 9.

By adamg - 7/20/15 - 9:36 pm
Manhole of doom in Jamaica Plain

Fire in the hole! The scene on Parkton. Photo by Alex Carlson.

Alex Carlson reports a fire in a manhole on Parkton Road shortly after 9 p.m. was followed rather quickly by people losing power between the MSPCA and the Jamaicaway.

By adamg - 6/11/13 - 4:27 pm

At 3:39 p.m., David Ziegler-Voll tweeted:

Holy shit just saw 10 ft flames and smoke shoot out of a manhole cover on Atlantic Ave. across from South Station

Dale Cruse then added:

My girlfriend at S. Station said manhole cover smoked and exploded. Fire shot out while homeless man watched, like, "ain't no thang".

By adamg - 6/9/13 - 8:48 pm

"Manhole blown off with smoke pouring out," D. Matt Brothers reports.

By adamg - 5/31/13 - 7:49 pm

Stanley Staco reports multiple manholes exploded around 7 p.m. in the area of D Street and West Broadway. NStar estimates 11 p.m. for power restoration

By adamg - 3/8/13 - 12:46 pm

Cambridge Police report neighboring businesses were evacuated as a precaution but that there were no injuries.

By adamg - 3/2/13 - 1:10 pm

Matthew Wilding reports a harrowing experience around 12:45 p.m.:

I just almost died when a manhole blew off on Washington st. In front of Dragon Chef.

He reports both he and dog are fine; they were clear when it blew.

By adamg - 2/25/13 - 11:31 am
Flaming manhole at Dartmouth and Newbury

First around 9:15 at Tremont and Park and then around 11:25 at Dartmouth and Newbury - the latter captured by roving UHub photographer Penny C.

By adamg - 1/14/13 - 2:06 pm

Manhole went ka-boom shortly after 1:30 p.m. outside 590 Commonwealth Ave. In possibly related news, the Boston University computer network is down.

By adamg - 1/11/13 - 3:45 pm

A manhole fire right at Brighton and Harvard avenues has caused power outages in the area. The city is also urging motorists to avoid the area, unless they like sitting in gridlock.

By adamg - 12/28/12 - 10:53 pm

SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: Fire must've done some major damage. A resident of the area around Wood Avenue in Hyde Park reports NStar told her power wouldn't be restored until 2 p.m.

A manhole on Cummins Highway near the Stop & Shop entrance burst into flames around 10:15 p.m., taking down with it power along Hyde Park Avenue between roughly Cummins Highway and American Legion Highway.

By adamg - 7/6/12 - 11:28 am

The Boston Fire Department reports fire flared up a manhole behind 359 Huntington Ave. this morning when some "penetrating spray" being used by a worker to loosen a bolt on an underground transformer hit a "small torch" and flashed over.

By adamg - 7/3/12 - 5:39 pm

North End Patch reports nobody was injured when manhole covers on Richmond, North and Cross streets began ascending skyward as if moved by an occult hand around 3 p.m.

By adamg - 6/25/12 - 4:28 pm

Firefighters peer down the hole. Photo by Eric Athas.Firefighters peer down the hole. Photo by Eric Athas.

By adamg - 3/15/12 - 4:07 pm

At least three manholes along Huntington Ave. exploded this afternoon, sending literal shudders through the nearby 101 Huntington, which has lapsed in and out of electrical service today.

At 3:46, Bonnie O. tweeted:

Why did we just hear and feel an explosion outside from inside 101 Huntington? Fire trucks outside near Marriott.

By adamg - 9/9/11 - 9:29 am

Power is out along Warren Street from at least Montrose Street to Elm Hill Avenue, where firefighters responded to a report of a flaming manhole shortly before 9 a.m.

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