Contractor strikes high-voltage line, sparking transformer fire in Downtown Brooklyn
Aug 2025Published 9 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- near 365 Bridge Street in Downtown Brooklyn
- What
- Contractor struck high-voltage feeder line sparking transformer fire
- Injuries
- One person taken to Brooklyn Hospital Center for treatment
- Cause
- Contractor accidentally striking a high-voltage feeder line
- Outcome
- Nearly 230 residents lost power; fully restored by 5pm
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Con Edison
What happened
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.
Contributing factors
The fire was caused by a contractor accidentally striking a high-voltage feeder line during work near the site, according to the FDNY.
Lessons learned
- High-voltage feeder lines near excavation sites must have verified locating and marking before work starts, as an accidental strike caused this fire.
- Elevators in residential buildings need backup power or fail-safe protocols, since loss of supply left residents unable to leave.
More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Transformer model and age
- Cost of repairs and downtime
- Exact location and depth of the feeder line
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
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Published 2026-09-09. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
