Contractor strikes high-voltage line, sparking transformer fire in Downtown Brooklyn

On 23 August 2025, a contractor working near 365 Bridge Street in Downtown Brooklyn struck a high-voltage feeder line, sparking a transformer fire. The blaze prompted a major emergency response, with 12 FDNY units and around 60 firefighters attending the scene. Nearly 230 residents lost power as a result of the incident. One person was taken to Brooklyn Hospital Center for treatment. Inside the affected building, several elevators went out of service, leaving some residents struggling to leave. Firefighters brought the incident under control by around 11am. Con Edison crews worked through the day to restore power, which was fully reinstated by 5pm the same evening, with repair crews remaining on site into the night to complete infrastructure repairs.

The fire was caused by a contractor accidentally striking a high-voltage feeder line during work near the site, according to the FDNY.

1. Utility locating and line-marking procedures should be verified and enforced before any excavation or drilling near underground high-voltage infrastructure.
2. Building emergency systems, including elevators, should have backup power or fail-safe protocols to prevent occupants being trapped during outages.
3. Utilities and emergency services should maintain clear public communication on restoration timelines to reduce confusion during outages affecting multi-unit residential buildings.

brooklyn.news12.com/2025/08/23/transformer-fire-and-power-outage-disrupt-dow...