Transformer explosion under Queens street injures pedestrian

What happened

On 22 July 2021, at about 5:20 p.m., a transformer exploded beneath a sidewalk on Farmers Boulevard in St. Albans, Queens, New York City. A security camera outside a supermarket recorded a ball of fire and smoke rising through a subway grate as a pedestrian walked over it. The pedestrian fell backward and was taken to hospital with second-degree burns. Sixty firefighters from the New York City Fire Department responded, and the fire was brought under control about 15 minutes later.

The Fire Department said it had attended a similar incident in the same area the previous day, on 21 July, when smoke and another fireball came through the sidewalk. No injuries were reported from that earlier event. Con Edison, the utility, said it was investigating both explosions.

Contributing factors

Not reported. Con Edison said it was fully investigating the cause of the event.

Lessons learned

1. Underground electrical equipment beneath public footways can fail suddenly and project fire through grates, so operators should inspect and maintain vaults and transformers near pedestrian routes.
2. A repeat event at the same location within a day should trigger immediate inspection and public-safety measures, not wait for a full investigation.
3. Security camera footage can establish the sequence of events and should be preserved for incident investigation.

More lessons on emergency response and public communication, theft, arson and site security, from every incident on the register.

Source

fox5ny.com